TRACECA meeting highlights importance of Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway and Middle Corridor

At the 18th annual meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission of the Transport Corridor Europe–Caucasus–Asia (TRACECA) held in Astana, Kazakhstan, Georgian Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Tamar Ioseliani emphasized the strategic importance of developing the Middle Corridor and strengthening regional transport connectivity.

According to Report's Georgian bureau, the Deputy Minister noted that Georgia is working closely with member states and partners to enhance the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor. She said the country is implementing projects aimed at expanding transit and logistics capacity.

Ioseliani particularly highlighted the strategic role of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway for the region. She stated that the completion of the project has increased cargo transportation along the East–West axis and further strengthened regional rail connectivity.

The Deputy Minister added that Georgia plans to attract around $7 billion in investment for the development of core transport and logistics infrastructure by 2032.

During the meeting, participants also noted a significant increase in cargo flows along the Middle Corridor. According to data, in 2025 container transportation through Georgian ports rose by 20%, while rail container traffic increased by 14%. Overall transport flow along the Middle Corridor grew by 33%.

Ioseliani also said that the creation of a joint venture between railway operators of Middle Corridor countries would further improve coordination of multimodal transport and enhance the route's competitiveness. She added that developing direct ferry services to expand access to European markets via the Black Sea remains one of the key priorities.