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:
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:
Key priorities for the coming years include:
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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Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
Tensions are rising in the South Caucasus after a reported strike near Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, fuelling fears that instability linked to Iran could spill into the region, Dr. Erik Rudenskjold speaks to AnewZ.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
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