Bulgarian ports may join Middle Corridor to boost trade connectivity

Bulgaria’s Black Sea ports of Varna and Burgas could soon be linked to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, following high-level talks between the presidents of Bulgaria and Kazakhstan.

The ports of Varna and Burgas in Bulgaria may become part of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, under a strategic plan to strengthen Europe-Asia trade links, Kazakhstan’s presidential office announced.

The development was discussed during a meeting between President Rumen Radev of Bulgaria and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan on June 9 in Astana. Both leaders highlighted the importance of deepening cooperation in transport and logistics.

“The sides agreed to explore the inclusion of the Bulgarian seaports of Burgas and Varna in the TITR project, which has already become one of the most significant strategic trade corridors,” a statement from the Akorda presidential office said.

President Tokayev emphasized that further progress would depend on leveraging bilateral mechanisms, particularly the Kazakhstan-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation. He proposed creating a dedicated joint working group on transport and logistics under the commission’s framework.

The integration of Varna and Burgas into the TITR would potentially offer a shorter and more secure alternative route for goods moving between Europe and Asia, bypassing traditional chokepoints and increasing Bulgaria’s role in regional logistics.

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