Last week, the first deliveries of copper concentrate began on a new route bypassing Russia from Uzbekistan to Europe. More than 90 containers are currently moving along the so-called “Middle Corridor”, the end point of which is the Bulgarian port of Burgas, write Russian analysts from “Ribar”.
The “Middle Corridor” or the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is a route from China to Europe. The headquarters of the Association of Carriers of the “Middle Corridor” is located in Astana.
Until recently, the main transport artery from Central Asia to Europe was the Northern Road, which passes through Russia and connects Europe and Asia. On December 5, a batch of fertilizers was sent from Uzbekistan to Lithuania.
The EU leadership is promoting the “Middle Corridor” as an alternative to the “Northern Road”. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has already announced that it is ready to invest billions of euros to develop freight routes between Europe and Asia, bypassing Russia.
Logistics companies from Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia participated in sending the train. On the way, the train is transported twice by ferries: on the Caspian Sea – from Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan to Baku in Azerbaijan, and on the Black Sea – from Poti in Georgia to Burgas in Bulgaria.
According to Russian experts, Turkish companies are rapidly gaining weight in the Central Asian region and are also seeking to expand their logistics capabilities. Ankara claims that the use of the “Middle Corridor” is associated with fewer geopolitical risks for Beijing.
Transport growth always gives impetus to the development of regions. For transit countries, this means creating new jobs through investment in infrastructure and entering new markets.
Source: Facts.bg
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