Trans-Caspian Corridor: Europe and Central Asia target faster trade
Transit along the Trans-Caspian Corridor currently takes around 35 days, with a target of cutting this to between 15 and 20. Officials say customs, digital systems and predictable border procedures are as important as new railways and ports.
The Trans-Caspian Corridor, a trade route connecting Europe and Central Asia, is being targeted for faster and more predictable trade. Countries along the corridor, supported by the European Union, are aiming to cut transit times from around 35 days to between 15 and 20 days. Cargo traveling west from Uzbekistan can pass through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye before reaching Europe via ferry and maritime links.
The second National Conference on the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor in Tashkent focused on improving soft connectivity, including digitalization, border procedures, and logistics. TRACECA (the intergovernmental commission for the Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport corridor) is working with governments to enhance cross-border connectivity.
TRACECA Secretary General Jasurbek Choriyev emphasized that infrastructure remains uneven along the route, but the priority is improving soft connectivity, such as digital connectivity and cross-border facilitation. Pēteris Ustubs, Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships, stressed the need for closer coordination across the corridor, focusing on harmonizing customs procedures and harmonizing documentation to electronic versions.
For logistics companies, predictable transit times are crucial, as they need to know when and how cargo will move along the route. EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan Toivo Klaar highlighted the importance of "soft infrastructure," such as agreeing on procedures to simplify border crossings and reduce clearance and permit times.
Bottlenecks further west, including railway capacity constraints and the Black Sea's security concerns, also impact the corridor's efficiency. Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries, is expanding links east and west, improving access to international markets through Caspian port infrastructure, ferries, and maritime capacity. Uzbekistan Railways plans a high-speed passenger line to free up freight capacity, and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway could bring more cargo into the network from the east.
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