Rolande Pryce: Middle Corridor investment needs will reach $28 billion over 15 years

According to World Bank estimates, infrastructure investment needs for the Middle Corridor will amount to approximately $28 billion over the next 15 years, Rolande Pryce, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus, said during the first Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2025).

According to Report, she explained that there is a shortage of commercially viable projects and, consequently, limited opportunities to implement large-scale infrastructure initiatives.

"Of this, $25 billion is needed for railways, and $1.8 billion for the expansion and modernization of ports. This, of course, aligns with my earlier point that bottlenecks occur at points where different modes of transport intersect: from sea to rail, from rail to road," Pryce said.

The regional director emphasized that these are precisely the areas where delays occur and where solutions are most needed.

"Another important issue is that the corridor passes through many different countries. It is therefore essential to establish harmonized approaches in digitalization, procedures, and regulations to make transitions for corridor users as seamless as possible. We are actively involved in developing and strengthening the corridor," she added.

Pryce highlighted that multilateral development banks simply do not have enough resources to fully meet existing demands.

"Therefore, we are increasingly refining the partnership model, attracting private capital, and working with governments in this regard. Our external plan involves creating partnerships and bringing together development specialists," she said.