Middle Corridor infrastructure needs coordinated development, official says

Transport infrastructure along the Middle Corridor must be developed in a more coordinated and prioritized manner, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rahman Hummatov said during panel discussions at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group's 51st Annual Meetings in Baku.

Hummatov noted that the corridor offers opportunities to become an economic hub and generate higher value‑added income: "Coordinated infrastructure investment remains a key prerequisite, but the full potential of the Middle Corridor can only be realized through parallel progress in digital and soft connectivity measures. A major step in this direction was the introduction of the single‑window information system established by presidential decree last year. These initiatives aim to integrate transport operators, ports, customs authorities, and other stakeholders into a unified digital ecosystem, ensuring paperless procedures, real‑time cargo tracking, and seamless data exchange."

The deputy minister added that Azerbaijan is accelerating major infrastructure projects to strengthen the resilience of the Middle Corridor and the broader transport ecosystem: "A milestone was the Washington Declaration signed in 2025 with US President Donald Trump's participation, marking a significant step toward the creation of the Zangazur Corridor with an expected annual capacity of 15 million tons, making it an indispensable component of regional transport networks. At the same time, Azerbaijan is advancing several large‑scale initiatives, such as the second‑phase expansion of Baku Port to raise capacity to 25 million tons of cargo and 500,000 TEU annually, the establishment of a specialized aviation cluster within the free economic zone, full electrification and modernization of the national railway network, and construction of new high‑capacity highways and rail lines. This infrastructure push has generated genuine international and institutional interest along the Middle Corridor."