New York | September 23, 2025
President Ilham Aliyev has described the Middle Corridor as a “strategic project covering extensive geography,” underscoring its importance as a safe and reliable trade route linking Europe and Asia through the Caspian Sea.
In a message to the 6th Caspian Business Forum, titled “Along the Middle Corridor: Connectivity, Finance and Energy,” Aliyev said the route now serves as the shortest and most efficient path for cargo flows between Asia and Europe.
“Azerbaijan’s location at the crossroads of two continents allows us to play a key role in connectivity,” Aliyev stated. “Thanks to our strategic vision and tireless efforts, the Middle Corridor has become a reality. Its success rests not only on Azerbaijan’s economic capacity but also on the political stability and security we have ensured.”
TRIPP and the August Breakthrough in Washington
Aliyev highlighted the landmark joint declaration signed in Washington on August 8, in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The agreement laid the foundation for the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) – a project that will secure unimpeded transport links between mainland Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
According to Aliyev, TRIPP will emerge as a crucial segment of the Middle Corridor, expanding international freight transit, boosting regional prosperity, and integrating South Caucasus states into global supply chains. He stressed that TRIPP also holds major potential for future energy transport, renewable electricity exports, and fiber-optic connectivity – transforming the region into a hub for trade and digital communications.
“Azerbaijan has mobilized every effort to ensure this route is implemented swiftly,” Aliyev said.
Economic Catalyst and Regional Growth
The president framed the Middle Corridor as a powerful catalyst for economic growth and integration, a driver of infrastructure, industry, and commerce that strengthens stability across the region.
“I am confident that today’s forum will generate valuable exchanges of ideas and new initiatives related to the Middle Corridor, deepening both regional and global integration,” he added.
Infrastructure Investments and Rising Transit Flows
Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s heavy investments in transport infrastructure, including the Baku International Sea Trade Port, a modern shipyard, railway networks, and logistics facilities. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and Azerbaijan’s Caspian cargo fleet were singled out as core assets ensuring the corridor’s uninterrupted operation.
Work is now underway to upgrade, digitize, and expand the corridor’s Azerbaijani segment to further increase throughput.
The results are already visible: over the past three years, cargo volumes along the Middle Corridor through Azerbaijan have grown by nearly 90 percent, while transit times have been sharply reduced. By 2030, throughput is projected to triple compared with 2021 levels, with overall transit times cut in half.
