Central Asia, Azerbaijan Build Unified Transport Area

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Central Asia and Azerbaijan are expanding transport and logistics cooperation by developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, new multimodal routes, and digital solutions, according to an article by Sh. Akhmedov, leading specialist at the Center for Research on Transport and Logistics Development Problems under the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan.

A new format of regional interaction emerged following the seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, held on 15–16 November 2025 in Tashkent. Following the summit, Azerbaijan was admitted as a full participant in this format.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or Middle Corridor, became one of the key areas of cooperation. Cargo traffic along the route exceeded 4.7 million tonnes in 2025.

The route's importance is also growing for Uzbekistan. Over five years, the volume of Uzbek cargo transported via the Middle Corridor doubled, reaching 1.3 million tonnes by the end of 2025. The share of cargo transported along this route to and from EU countries increased from 12% in 2021 to 28% in 2025.

A joint Working Group is operational to further increase cargo traffic along the Trans-Caspian corridor to 1.5 million tonnes. It is reviewing options to expand the route's capacity, increase transit volumes across the Caspian Sea, and acquire vessels.

In parallel, Uzbekistan is developing alternative routes. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway remains one of the key projects.

According to specialists' estimates, once completed, the railway will shorten the distance between China and countries in Europe and the Middle East by 900 kilometers and cut delivery times by seven to eight days. Until the rail line is commissioned, transport along this route is being conducted using the existing network of international highways.

Another mechanism for developing regional connectivity is the CASCA+ multimodal route, which links Asia-Pacific countries with China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Europe. In 2025, container cargo traffic along the route reached 6,722 TEUs, up 47% from 2024.

An additional tool supporting cargo transport is tariff preferences, which railway administrations of participating countries grant annually. These discounts can reach up to 70%.

The institutional framework for cooperation is also expanding. In 2024, railway authorities from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Tajikistan established the Eurasian Transport Route association. Its objective is the prompt removal of logistical barriers along the route.

A separate area of focus is the development of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan route. According to calculations cited in the article, it could reduce the distance from European and CIS countries to Indian Ocean ports by up to 1,000 kilometers compared to existing corridors.

In the future, this route could be integrated with pathways through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia into a single multimodal chain linking South Asia with European markets.

At the same time, the countries are advancing the digitalization of transport processes. In particular, Uzbekistan is implementing the e-Permit system, which enables the electronic exchange of international road haulage permits.

According to the article, electronic permit exchange between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan is designed to simplify administrative procedures, speed up customs clearance, and reduce the human factor. The text notes that the system between the two countries is launched from 2025.

Türkiye is cited in the article as the first international destination where Uzbekistan implemented the electronic permit exchange system, in 2021. The system was introduced with Kazakhstan in 2024, and with Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan in 2025. Its rollout with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and China is scheduled for 2026.

The development of transport infrastructure, multimodal routes, and digital tools creates a foundation for tighter integration of Central Asia and Azerbaijan into Eurasian supply chains, the article states.