TRACECA and UNECE Summarize Results of Seminar on Digitalization of the Trans-Caspian Corridor in Baku
The 22nd International Seminar, titled “Advancing the Multimodal Digital Trans-Caspian Corridor: Methodology and Next Steps,” was held in a hybrid format at the headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA in Baku.
According to AZERTAC, citing the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, the event was organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), together with the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA and development partners.
The seminar brought together heads and leading experts from relevant government agencies of the TRACECA and SPECA countries, representatives of the European Commission, the World Bank, GIZ, the International Trade Centre (ITC), as well as members of the business community.
Opening remarks were delivered by Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA Jasurbek Choriyev, Ambassador of the European Union to Azerbaijan Mariana Kuyundzic, and Adviser to the Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan Ilham Namazov.
The central item on the agenda was the review of the draft Methodology for the Trans-Caspian Digital Corridor, developed on the basis of UN/CEFACT standards, as well as a discussion of best practices in data exchange. Particular attention was paid to the implementation status of pilot projects for the digitalization of rail, maritime, road and air transport.
In his speech, the Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA emphasized that digitalization has ceased to be a separate technological area and has become a mandatory condition for the competitiveness of international transport routes. He noted the transition from individual pilot projects, including e-CIM/SMGS initiatives and data exchange between Caspian ports, to scaling up and the practical deployment of a fully-fledged multimodal digital corridor.
“The key challenges remain the mutual recognition of electronic documents, the synchronization of administrative procedures, and ensuring the interoperability of digital platforms based on UN/CEFACT standards,” he noted.
EU Ambassador Mariana Kuyundzic emphasized the strategic role of the South Caucasus and Central Asia in ensuring global connectivity (Connectivity Agenda) and diversifying sustainable supply chains.
She highlighted the importance of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, European experience in developing the TEN-T network, as well as the EU–Azerbaijan Connectivity Partnership initiative.
Particular emphasis was also placed on the new Connectivity for Peace investment package of up to €200 million, with the potential to mobilize up to €2 billion in investments in the region’s transport, energy and digital sectors. Following three thematic sessions and an expert roundtable, participants discussed the digitization of accompanying documents, regulatory convergence and cybersecurity in data exchange.
The seminar represented another practical step in implementing the Roadmap for the Digitalization of Multimodal Data Exchange along the Trans-Caspian Route, approved by the leaders of the countries at the SPECA Summit in November 2023.
The initiative builds on the outcomes of the 2022 Baku Conference and the 2023 SPECA Ministerial Statement, bringing together the results of a series of regional seminars held in Turkmenistan, Baku and Astana in 2025–2026.
Representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan and Ukraine took part in the event.
