Trans-Caspian Corridor: a new Silk Road in the making — what’s next for Central Asia and the EU?

As the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) gains renewed momentum, Central Asia and the European Union (EU) are working to turn long-standing connectivity ambitions into concrete trade routes, investment deals and infrastructure upgrades.

With roughly €10 billion mobilised during the 2024 Investors Forum in Brussels, stakeholders say the corridor could become a major commercial bridge between Europe, Central Asia and beyond.

The TCTC - sometimes referred to as the “Middle Corridor” - aims to link Europe with Central Asia through a multimodal network of rail, sea, and land transport across the Caspian and Black Seas. The corridor promises to shorten transit times, reduce dependence on volatile routes, and open new markets for Central Asian exports.

At the 2024 EU–Central Asia Connectivity Investors Forum in Brussels, EU and regional partners pledged roughly €10 billion to fund rail upgrades, port modernisation, customs-processing improvements and logistics reforms.

Since then:

• Several feasibility studies were launched to assess bottlenecks in rail and port infrastructure across the Caspian route.
• Investment plans were drawn up for port modernisation and multimodal hubs to streamline rail-sea-rail transitions.
• Agreements between regional governments and European financial institutions were discussed, aiming to harmonise transport regulations, customs procedures and logistics standards — crucial for smooth transit across multiple borders.

According to Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Jasurbek Choriyev, the corridor’s success depends on timely infrastructure upgrades, modern logistics and regulatory reform.

“According to our current projections, if today the volume of cargo coming from China through our territory stands at around 5–6 million tonnes, we expect this figure to reach 10–15 million tonnes by 2030–2035, and up to 30 million tonnes by 2040,” Choriyev for AnewZ

He noted that to handle such a large increase in transit, Central Asia needs robust infrastructure. Once in place, the region’s full potential would be unlocked — enabling efficient delivery not only to Europe but also to neighbouring and southern countries.

What’s Next: Plans & Outlook

Key priorities for the coming years include:

• Rail upgrades and port modernisation to ensure faster, more reliable freight transport across the corridor.
• Customs and regulatory harmonisation among corridor countries to reduce transit delays.
• Investment in logistics infrastructure, including warehousing, multimodal hubs, and digital tracking systems.
• Expansion of trade routes beyond Europe — using the corridor to reach southern and western Asian markets, thereby maximising regional potential.

If implemented, analysts predict the TCTC could significantly boost Central Asia’s export capacity, deepen regional cooperation, and attract foreign direct investment, making Central Asia a key node in global supply chains.

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