North–South corridor key to Eurasian connectivity – Indian expert

The international transport corridor North–South is becoming a critical element in strengthening Eurasian connectivity, which plays a decisive role in shaping a multipolar world order, Atas Zafar, Senior Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs, said at the 13th session of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Think Tank Forum in Baku, according to Report.

Zafar emphasized that in today's complex global environment - marked by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing geopolitical conflicts, and strategic uncertainty - developing transport and economic linkages has taken on special importance. Such connectivity not only ensures secure trade routes but also helps expand direct people-to-people contact.

"The global economy and digital technologies are undergoing massive transformation, and the economic center of gravity is gradually shifting toward Eurasia. This shift will have a profound impact on the region," the expert noted.

He highlighted the North–South corridor as a prime example, noting that it can reduce cargo delivery times from Asia to Europe from 40–60 days to just 23 days and cut transportation costs by approximately 30% compared to traditional routes.