Tajikistan expands cooperation with Azerbaijan within Middle Corridor, envoy says

Tajikistan views the Middle Corridor as one of the key priorities of its transport and foreign economic policy, opening new opportunities to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan, Tajikistan"s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ilkhom Abdurakhmon, said in an interview with Report.

According to him, the country is steadily implementing its strategy to develop transport and logistics infrastructure under its State Program for the Development of the Logistics System for 2023–2028.

The ambassador noted that the program envisions the creation of regional and international logistics hubs, expansion of transport infrastructure, and reduction of freight transportation costs.

"Overall, Tajikistan's participation in the development of the Middle Corridor is becoming more stable and practical in nature, which opens additional opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation with Azerbaijan - primarily in the areas of digitalization of transport processes, development of joint logistics solutions, and improving the efficiency of transit chains between Central Asia, the Caspian region, and the South Caucasus," the diplomat said.

Abdurakhmon emphasized that transport and logistics cooperation between the two countries is gaining additional momentum through closer coordination between relevant agencies in the digitalization of transportation and optimization of transit routes.

In particular, he said the sides are moving toward the practical implementation of electronic permits for international road transport, which will reduce paperwork and speed up transit operations.

He also noted the development of digital connectivity between transport systems, including data exchange between information platforms, implementation of "single window" mechanisms, and real-time cargo tracking systems.

The ambassador added that both sides are working to improve the efficiency of transport and logistics routes and are expanding practical cooperation with the Baku International Sea Trade Port.

The full interview is available here.