AD Ports Group acquires majority share in Tbilisi Dry Port
AD Ports Group has acquired a majority share in the Tbilisi Dry Port. The logistics company, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, purchased sixty per cent of shares. Construction on the dry port is still ongoing, but...Read more
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway opens in April after major refurbishment
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line (BTK), spanning the territories of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, has been undergoing a major ‘facelift’ since last year. The goal is for the line to regain its past prestige and become...Read more
After Germany, China is also planning to build a transport hub in Uzbekistan
China is planning to build a transport hub in Uzbekistan. The Chinese logistics company Shenzhen Neptune Logistics announced plans to contribute approximately fifteen million dollars to that end. It is not the first foreign company...Read more
Rail freight volumes between China and Kazakhstan reach record high
Rail freight volumes between China and Kazakhstan have reached a new record in 2023. Volumes grew by 22 per cent in comparison to the previous year. In total, volumes amounted to 28 million tonnes.Read more
EU to invest 10 billion euros in Middle Corridor
The European Union is allocating 10 billion euros for the development of the so-called Middle Corridor. It has identified 33 infrastructure projects to be financed, among which are many rail projects. The EU hopes to...Read more
Azerbaijan goes ahead with Zangezur Corridor railway construction
Azerbaijan is actively constructing a railway in the direction of the ‘Zangezur Corridor’. The railway is reportedly about halfway to completion. With the railway, Azerbaijan is looking to open up a free movement corridor through...Read more
‘Chinese investments in EU infrastructure need to be better understood’
The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) commissioned a study on Chinese investments in non-maritime infrastructure in Europe and the possible risks they might entail. The biggest risks identified concern Chinese influence on EU...Read more
China-Azerbaijan trade soars, rail freight volumes follow
Rail freight volumes between China and Azerbaijan for the first 11 months of 2023 increased by 47 per cent compared to the same period last year. This rise can be linked to massive increases in...Read more
‘The Middle Corridor can fulfil different but equally valuable roles’
European Silk Road Summit 2023“Here is an idea. Why not make the Middle Corridor a humanitarian corridor to transport essential goods such as food, energy, health (medical, pharmaceuticals etc)? These goods are always and critically needed, and the Middle...Read more
Kazakhstan to build new railway and border crossing to Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan is building a new railway towards Uzbekistan, which will lead to a third rail crossing between the two countries. The infrastructure will stretch for about 152 kilometres in southern Kazakhstan, between Darbaza and the...Read more
Six EU countries want to join the Middle Corridor in view of major energy project
The Kazakh Transport Minister, Marat Karabayev, disclosed that six EU countries, including Austria, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Hungary, have recently expressed interest in becoming official members of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) association....Read more
The first Middle Corridor joint venture has just been established
What has been in the pipeline since early 2022 is now a reality. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgian railways just sealed a deal to establish a joint venture on a parity basis. The new company will...Read more
China’s BRI plans signal a renewed opportunity for the Silk Road
ANALYSISThe Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, held last week in Beijing, functioned as a platform for China to communicate its BRI and Silk Road aspirations. Multiple mentions of railway development and the...Read more
China turns to the Middle Corridor and prepares for investments
It has been almost two years since the Middle Corridor came under the spotlight after the war in Ukraine began. The corridor was forced to grow fast amid multiple challenges to accommodate parts of rail...Read more
Rhenus Logistics becomes terminal operator in Uzbekistan after new deal
Germany-based Rhenus Logistics and Uzbekistan Railways enter a new era of cooperation. An official agreement between the two parties foresees the establishment of two joint ventures. The joint ventures will operate intermodal terminals in the...Read more
Germany eyes EU financing for more rail with Central Asia
Germany and Central Asian countries are amid attempts to strengthen their trade cooperation and possibly increase rail connections. A few days ago, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with the heads of five Central Asian countries,...Read more
Making sense of the Middle Corridor in a post-war context
For forwarders focusing on containerised cargo volumes, using the Middle Corridor between China and Europe costs more than it brings. The route gained much exposure because of the war in Ukraine as an option to...Read more
Webinar recap: three updates for the Silk Road situation
War in Ukraine has made the transit route via Russia a delicate choice. Legal-wise, most of the products can still be transhipped via rail crossing Russia; in practice, European companies remain critical and hesitant to...Read more
Kazakhstan takes actions to increase Caspian Sea capacity
Two Kazakh ports, Aktau and Kuryk, have become significantly important for intermodal traffic via the Caspian Sea and Kazakhstan’s railway network. However, they still face substantial challenges, namely the port infrastructure and the declining Caspian...Read more