Summit of Central Asian and Georgian Foreign Ministers in Batumi Focuses on the "Middle Corridor"
On October 23, on the initiative of Georgia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maka Bochorishvili, the first-ever joint meeting of the foreign ministers of Central Asian countries and Georgia took place in Batumi. The multilateral forum was attended by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, alongside his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The heads of the diplomatic services highly valued the quality of the interregional dialogue, noting that their approaches to key aspects of the international agenda and the maintenance of regional stability are either aligned or closely aligned. The launch of this new format is intended to establish a regular and systematic framework for coordination between Central Asia and the Caucasus region, with the goal of developing practical initiatives in the spheres of economy, trade, transport, and tourism.
The primary focus of the Batumi meeting was unlocking the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (the "Middle Corridor"), which connects Asia and Europe. Diplomats discussed comprehensive measures to enhance the competitiveness of this artery, including the modernization of port hubs, the digitalization of logistics processes, and the streamlining of transit procedures to the greatest extent possible.
In this context, the Turkmen side put forward a number of specific proposals for fostering mutually beneficial transregional cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and Georgia—including a call to strengthen engagement with international organizations such as the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The importance of developing comprehensive measures to implement Turkmenistan’s proposals was noted. Furthermore, the Turkmen side suggested leveraging Georgia’s capabilities and strategic projects as a distinct area for cooperation. Emphasizing the significance of collaboration in the telecommunications sector, the Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan highlighted a project to construct telecommunications networks, including the laying of a fiber-optic cable along the Caspian-Black Sea corridor.
As a practical follow-up to the discussions, the participants were introduced to the potential of the Batumi Seaport. Ivane Abashidze, Director of the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia, provided the ministers with a detailed overview of the port and terminal infrastructure, current transit metrics, and both ongoing and future projects—including the development of the Anaklia deep-water port. The diplomats underscored the strategic importance of the Caspian-Black Sea transport and logistics hub as a key driver for sustainable growth and economic connectivity across Eurasia.
