Officials from Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan are advancing plans for a multimodal transportation corridor through the Caspian Sea to bolster trade between Central Asia and Europe. This strategic initiative, discussed during a virtual meeting on November 13, aims to enhance regional connectivity and international trade routes.
The meeting, attended by Mammetkhan Chakyyev, head of Turkmenistan’s Transport and Communications Agency, and Bakyt Torobayev, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, also covered potential collaboration in energy, transport, infrastructure, agriculture, and trade. The discussions underscored the importance of strengthening trade relations and increasing cargo flow through the Caspian Sea, creating new opportunities for regional and international logistics.
New Trade Corridors Under Discussion
Among the proposed routes are:
Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Russia Corridor: Designed to streamline goods transport within Central Asia and to Russian markets.
Azerbaijan’s Port of Alat to Europe: This alternative pathway would connect the Caspian region to European markets, boosting international trade capabilities.
To support these initiatives, officials discussed implementing reduced tariffs for transport and port services, making the Turkmenbashi International Seaport an attractive hub for Kyrgyz carriers. Business Turkmenistan highlighted that these measures could significantly enhance the viability of the proposed routes.
Efforts to operationalize the Caspian Sea route have already begun. Igor Golubev, Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyz Republic’s Association of International Cargo Carriers, detailed plans for a ferry-based transport system linking Turkmenbashi to Astrakhan. Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Transport is actively sourcing ferries from the Mediterranean and Black Seas for deployment in the Caspian, while dredging operations in Astrakhan aim to address declining water levels and maintain navigability.
Golubev emphasized the political commitment behind these efforts, noting that ferry production and delivery to the Caspian are priorities. The new transport system would provide Kyrgyz carriers with an alternative to existing routes through Kazakhstan.
The proposed logistics network aligns with Kyrgyzstan’s interest in developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, which bypasses Russia. This route integrates two major international transport corridors—North-South and West-East—reducing delivery distances and streamlining goods transport between Central Asia and Europe.
Akylbek Japarov, head of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers, discussed the project with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk in October. The Caspian Sea route is anticipated to benefit Russian regions, including the North Caucasus, central, and southern areas, while retaining Kazakhstan as a primary transit option for other regions.
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