(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27. Middle Corridor can
handle more land-based trade between Europe and Asia, Miriam
Garcia, European Commission spokesperson, told Trend.
“Diversifying trade routes and developing alternative reliable
efficient sustainable transport connections between Europe and Asia
is now more important than ever. Following Russia's invasion of
Ukraine, the Middle Corridor has taken on a new relevance.
Advancing cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan is instrumental
to boost the role of Azerbaijan as a key connectivity hub between
Europe and Asia. The Middle Corridor has potential to be handling
more land-based trade between Europe and Asia, if key issues,
bottlenecks, capacity shortages and other connectivity issues -
including soft connectivity such as customs, border crossings and
documentation - are adequately addressed in coordination with all
key partners involved,” she said.
Garcia went on to add that the Port of Baku has the potential of
becoming a key connectivity hub, but further developments are
needed to increase its capacities.
“Caspian Sea crossing is often identified as one of the major
bottlenecks along the Middle Corridor, due to shortage of vessels
and difficult/unpredictable weather conditions. Higher degree of
predictability is key to attract businesses to use this route. The
EU has launched a study on sustainable transport connections in
Central Asia, which will look for best possible ways to ensure
sustainable connections from the South Caucasus onwards towards
Asia, including through Azerbaijan. The study is expected to be
finalised by May 2023,” said the EU Commission's spokesperson.
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