Past Event

Unlocking the Potential of the Middle Corridor

The event will contribute to advancing a regional approach to improving the Middle Corridor’s operational efficiency and addressing bottlenecks.

Introduction

On November 27, 2023, the World Bank released a study, The Middle Trade and Transport Corridor: Policies and Investments to Triple Freight Volumes and Halve Travel Time by 2030. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the expected demand for the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (“Middle Corridor”), a multimodal rail and maritime corridor linking Chinese and European markets via Central Asia and the South Caucasus. The study also offers a detailed diagnostic of infrastructure and logistics services capacity and constraints in the three core countries of the Middle Corridor: Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.

Regional Event

The World Bank is organizing a regional event in Tbilisi to present and discuss key findings from this study as well as a follow-up companion piece focused on digitalization. Discussions there will contribute to advancing a regional approach to improving the corridor’s operational efficiency and addressing bottlenecks.

This event will provide a platform for discussing the findings of the World Bank studies, engaging government representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan as well as state-owned enterprises, private sector, development partners, think-tanks, and media.

When: February 27, 2024, 9:30AM-12:00PM (GMT+4)

Where: Paragraph Freedom Square Hotel, Tbilisi, Georgia

Download the agenda (PDF)

09:30 – 10:00

Registration and welcome coffee

10:00 – 10:20

Opening and Welcome Remarks:

Ms. Rolande Pryce, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus

Mr. Guram Guramishvili, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

Mr. Rahman Hummatov – Deputy Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Virtual participation)

Mr. Sapar Bektasov, Director of the Department of Transport Policy, Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Virtual participation)          

10:20 – 10:50

Presentation

Presentation of the World Bank study - “Middle Trade and Transport Corridor: Policies and Investments to Triple Freight Volumes and Halve Travel Time by 2030”; with a follow-up study - “Digitalization of the Middle Corridor”.

Víctor Aragonés, Senior Transport Economist, World Bank

10:50 – 11:45

Panel Discussion

Panel Moderator: Shomik Raj Mehndiratta, Transport Practice Manager for Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank

Mr. Abay  Turikpenbaev, Chairman of the Executive Board (President), NC “Aktau Sea Commercial Port” JSC (virtual participation)

Mr. Khudayar Hasanlı, Head of Strategic Planning and Development Department, Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC (virtual participation)

Mr. Gaidar Abdikerimov, Secretary General, International Association “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route” (virtual participation)

Ms. Alua Satybaldiyeva - Deputy CEO/COO of DTC PSA

Mr. Samson Uridia, Head of the Department of International Relations, Revenue Service, Ministry of Finance of Georgia

Ms. Ivana Fernandes Duarte, IFC South Caucasus Country Manager

11:45 – 12:00

Questions & Answers

12:00 – 13:00

Lunch

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Date: February 27, 2024

Time: 04:33 AM - 04:33 AM ET

Location: Tbilisi, Georgia