Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye that provides an alternative connection between Asian and European markets.
Representatives of the railway administrations of Uzbekistan, Türkiye, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan met to review the corridor's performance and discuss measures to increase freight volumes, improve transit efficiency and strengthen regional cooperation.
The parties analysed the corridor's performance during 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, identifying operational bottlenecks and discussing solutions to improve logistics services and reduce transport times. Particular attention was given to developing a more competitive tariff policy and increasing the route's attractiveness to international cargo operators.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a six-party protocol outlining further cooperation and measures to expand freight traffic along the corridor.
CASCA+ (Central Asia–South Caucasus–Anatolia Plus) was established in 2019 as a platform for railway cooperation among countries located along one of the most important emerging Eurasian transport routes.
The corridor connects Central Asian producers with markets in the Caucasus, Türkiye and Europe through a combination of rail and maritime infrastructure. It has gained increasing importance in recent years as governments and businesses seek alternative trade routes capable of reducing transit times and diversifying supply chains.
According to transport officials, freight volumes transported by Uzbekistan through the corridor have increased significantly since its creation, reflecting growing demand for regional connectivity and cross-border trade.
During the latest discussions, participating countries focused on practical measures to improve the corridor's performance. These include reducing administrative barriers, shortening delivery times, improving coordination among railway operators and creating more competitive transport tariffs.
The countries also discussed ways to enhance digitalisation across the route. Previous proposals within the CASCA+ framework have included the introduction of online tracking systems for wagons and containers, as well as expanded use of refrigerated transport for agricultural exports.
Experts note that improving transport connectivity is becoming increasingly important for Central Asian economies, many of which are landlocked and heavily dependent on efficient transit routes to access international markets.
The newly signed protocol reflects broader efforts by participating countries to strengthen economic cooperation and increase trade flows across Eurasia.
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