Caspian and Black Sea Ports Synchronize Middle Corridor Operations
Heads of leading seaports from Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia held talks in Baku on the sidelines of the CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia) summit. Executives from key hubs—Turkmenbashi, Baku, Aktau, Kuryk, Poti, and Batumi—agreed to establish a unified transit zone connecting the Caspian and Black Sea basins.
The primary driver of this integration is the explosive growth of cargo flows along the Middle Corridor. According to the Baku International Sea Trade Port, cargo turnover with the Turkmenbashi International Sea Port rose by 34.6% in the first eight months of 2026 compared to the same period the previous year. Maritime freight volumes with Kazakhstani ports increased by 6% during the same period.
During the two-day forum (September 9–10), the parties discussed eliminating logistical bottlenecks, digitizing clearance procedures, and accelerating the handling of Ro-Ro vessels and general cargo. Participants toured the unified Control Room of the Port of Baku and attended a presentation on environmental technologies aligned with the "Green Port" concept.
This major event was organized by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, AZCON Holding, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, and the Port of Baku, with the support of the CICA Secretariat. Coordinating operations between Caspian and Black Sea ports will help optimize multimodal routes connecting Asia and Europe.
