MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Panel discussion “The Middle Corridor: From Reliable to Impactful” was held within the framework of the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum. Speakers discussed the importance of the Middle Corridor route, including various sectoral directions. Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili, noted, that the Middle Corridor route is a platform for direct dialogue between the countries as well as a good example of how several significant issues can be transformed not only in a single country, but across the entire region or several countries.

“The whole attraction of the Middle Corridor is that when there is a new initiative, or any kind obstacle need to be solved, we all unite. This strengthens the route as well as each country, and this is a process. The route has become highly competitive, and if you are competitive today, it affects other sectoral directions as well. The Middle Corridor has presented itself as an extraordinary opportunity and necessity” – the Minister of Economy stated.

Mariam Kvrivishvili also spoke about the progress of major infrastructure projects in Georgia, emphasizing such important projects as the railway modernization, the Anaklia Deep Sea Port, and the new Tbilisi Airport.
The panel discussion was also attended by Nurlan Sauranbayev, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Yingming Yang, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank (South, Central, and West Asia); and Osman Boyraz, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye.

The Vice President of the Asian Development Bank spoke about the trade and transport role of the Middle Corridor and the financing of infrastructure projects in the countries involved. According to his information, the Asian Development Bank intends to invest 3 billion USD by 2028 to strengthen the infrastructure in the Middle Corridor countries.

Important emphasis on the development of the Middle Corridor route was also made by the Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, Rashad Nabiyev, who highlighted the role of the corridor and the importance of cargo transportation between Europe and Asia.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye, Osman Boyraz, also emphasized the safety and reliability of the Middle Corridor in the speech. According to his statement, the Middle Corridor is a reliable route because it passes through a region where there are no geopolitical risks. Therefore, it can truly be the most reliable and dependable corridor.

Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nurlan Sauranbayev, during the panel discussion, focused on the development of the Middle Corridor and the importance of transit. According to him, transit is the future of many countries, and Kazakhstan is very interested in the development of the Middle Corridor.