IsDB official: Middle Corridor and Baku Port open prospects for youth

The Middle Corridor and Baku Port are pathways to opportunities for young people, Idrissa Dia, Director of Economic and Social Infrastructure Global Practices Department at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), stated at the event under the theme Youth Without Borders: Driving Shared Regional Prosperity in Baku within the framework of the IsDB Group's 2026 Annual Meeting, Report informs.

The official noted that cross-border trade expands markets for young entrepreneurs beyond national boundaries, while digitalization accelerates this process.

"Labor mobility allows youth to work where opportunities exist. Thanks to regional digital infrastructure, a young leader in Baku can serve clients in Almaty, Dakar, or Dhaka. Halal tourism and creative industries are creating new employment opportunities in member countries. That's why Azerbaijan is the most suitable venue for these discussions. The country has made strategic investments in regional connectivity. The Middle Corridor, Baku Port, and the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway line, which will be widely discussed this week, are prime examples. These projects are not only transformative regional infrastructure but also gateways to new opportunities for youth," Dia emphasized.

He added that IsDB, as one of the main integration institutions among member states, believes investment in youth is the most profitable investment: "We can create truly transformative impacts in the lives of young people who will shape and lead our future," he said.