BAKU, Azerbaijan — Freight flows along the Middle Corridor could triple by 2030 while delivery times could be cut in half, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said.
Speaking at the Second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, Jabbarov cited a 2023 World Bank assessment of the route linking China and Europe through Central Asia and the South Caucasus.
The World Bank said the corridor could triple freight volumes and halve travel time by 2030 if countries implement the required policies and investments. The route, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, passes through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Jabbarov said Azerbaijan intends to turn transport routes into broader economic corridors. The strategy covers not only freight transit but also the movement of energy, data, capital and people, as well as processing raw materials in Azerbaijan before exporting finished products to Turkey and Europe.
Non-Oil Economy Targeted to Reach 82% of GDP
Azerbaijan’s non-oil and gas sector grew by an average of 6% a year in real terms from 2021 through 2025, Jabbarov said. Non-oil industrial output increased 50% during the period, while non-oil and gas exports nearly doubled.
The non-oil and gas economy accounted for 71% of gross domestic product in 2025. The government aims to increase that share to 82% by 2030.
To support exports, the state reimburses as much as 70% of transportation costs for certain non-oil products, subject to established limits.
Energy and Digital Links Across the Caspian
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are developing a green energy corridor. In parallel, the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe project is designed to carry renewable electricity to European markets.
A planned Trans-Caspian fiber-optic cable between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is expected to create a new high-speed digital route between Europe and Asia.
Jabbarov also said most foreign companies operating in Azerbaijan choose to reinvest their profits in the country. Azerbaijan currently supplies natural gas to 16 countries, including 10 European Union members.