China's CRCT to join JV formed by Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan railways for Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

BAKU. Sept 19 (Interfax) - China Railway Container Transport Corp. Ltd. (CRCT) plans to join the joint venture Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd., created by railway operators of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan, CJSC Azerbaijan Railways said.

It said Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways and Yang Bin, President of CRCT, discussed increased railway transportation and logistics cooperation between Azerbaijan and China, including higher cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).

"They also exchanged views on CRCT joining to the Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd joint venture between the railways of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia. This should take place in the coming days. CRTC joining the project would contribute to boosting cargo turnover along the Middle Corridor," the company said.

Regarding increased cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor, the Azerbaijani officials said at the meeting that 212 container block trains had been sent from Chinese ports to Azerbaijan since the beginning of 2024. The container delivery time to the Baku port is 8-10 days, and to the Black Sea ports it is 10-12 days.

Baku will host discussions on the establishment of the new Eurasian Transport Route International Association at the initiative of the Azerbaijan Railways and with the participation of Chinese, Central Asian and European railway operators on September 19-20. The discussions will focus on the development of the southern wing of the Middle Corridor, as well as provision of efficient, fast and safe cargo transportation along the China-Central Asia-Europe route and vice versa," Azerbaijan Railways said.

The railway operators of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia signed an agreement in October 2023. to form the equally owned joint venture Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd under the auspices of the Astana International Financial Center

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, TITR, known also as the Middle Corridor, is an international transport route running from China to European countries via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.