The countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan agreed on October 11, 2023, in Tashkent to enhance the Eurasian trade corridor to Europe. By signing a protocol, these countries will address the reduction of transit time at intermodal nodes along the route and contribute to the cost competitiveness of the CASCA corridor.
Agreement on reducing transit time
During this meeting, railway officials from the six countries emphasized the importance of facilitating the transfer of cargo from one mode of transport to another at the ports of the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. They believe that this approach can attract a new volume of cargo and strengthen the status of CASCA as one of the most reliable and fastest land bridges in Eurasia.
Simplifying tariffs and improving customs procedures
The protocol also calls on the participating countries to simplify tariff regimes and improve customs procedures. These measures could help attract new cargo and increase the efficiency of this corridor. The CASCA corridor has been proposed since 2019, but efforts to develop it have seriously begun since June 2025.
Meanwhile, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are in talks with Romania to create a side route to CASCA that will continue through the Black Sea. This side route is expected to help expand the capabilities of the CASCA corridor and increase cargo volume along this route.
Given the importance of this agreement, it is expected that the participating countries will actively strive to achieve the set goals and contribute to increasing cooperation in transport and trade. This agreement could lead to enhanced economic and trade cooperation in the region and also improve transport infrastructure in the CASCA corridor.
