The Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor is key to enhancing Central Asia’s economic diversification and regional integration. The countries of Central Asia have experienced robust economic growth in recent years, driven by strong domestic demand, infrastructure investments, and a rebound in the services and industrial sectors. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the economies of the five Central Asian countries have displayed resilience and continue to grow. The region, however, remains largely dependent on exports of primary commodities, particularly hydrocarbons and metals. Distance to major centres of global demand also constrains trade diversification and the region’s integration into global value chains. As a result, Central Asian countries increasingly view the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) not only as a transit route but also as a driver of economic modernisation, diversification and deeper regional integration. In line with this renewed focus, total cargo volumes along the TCTC rose by 62% in 2024 to reach 4.5 million tonnes, although this remains well below the capacity of the Northern Corridor. The modernisation of transport and logistics infrastructure is underway, but further targeted investments could greatly enhance the TCTC’s competitiveness.

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