Azerbaijan to host ITF's annual summit in May 2026

Azerbaijan will host the Annual Summit of the International Transport Forum (ITF) in May 2026, according to Elsevar Guliyev, Coordinator of the Eastern Partnership Trade and Transport Project for Azerbaijan, Report informs.

Guliyev made the announcement at the "Black Sea–Caspian Freight Forum 2025: Corridors, Cargo, Infrastructure," held in Baku.

"We participated in this year's ITF Summit in Leipzig, Germany. One of the key outcomes of the discussions was the urgent need for major investment in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, also known as Middle Corridor)," Guliyev stated.

The official emphasized that investment in infrastructure and the digitalization of transport operations is essential.

"In addition, the main obstacle to the TITR project remains administrative barriers. Overcoming them is critical. Investments must come from governments, international organizations, and the private sector," he said.

The ITF Annual Summit is the world's largest gathering of transport ministers and a leading global platform for shaping transport policy. Each May, ministers responsible for transport, business leaders, heads of international organizations, parliamentarians, policy makers, industry associations, and top researchers convene in Leipzig to discuss the future of transport through a strategic lens.

Participation has expanded beyond ITF's 69 member countries, with over 1,200 attendees from more than 80 nations. The event increasingly attracts business stakeholders, with CEOs joining high-level discussions and companies showcasing their work at the summit exhibition or sponsoring the event. The ITF Corporate Partnership Board also holds its annual meeting as part of the summit.