Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan: Middle Corridor agreement of 15 October

On 15 October 2026, in the presence of the presidents of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, the transport ministers exchanged a signed Agreement on cooperation to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor). Kazinform reported this citing Akorda.

The document creates a common legal basis for the route. It provides for synchronized expansion of infrastructure, removal of bottlenecks on rail, road and port sections, and joint development of dredging and Caspian shipping. A separate block covers digitalization: system integration, a single window, end-to-end cargo tracking and mutual recognition of electronic signatures. Administrative, border and customs procedures are to be simplified through advance information, fewer inspections and mutual AEO recognition.

The sides also confirmed the acquisition of two dry-cargo vessels (AZCON Holding and Samruk-Kazyna) — a practical step toward Caspian capacity on the Aktau/Kuryk–Alyat leg.

For Gateway Logistics this is a signal for project and multimodal shipments on the Caspian: clearer road–port–ferry–rail handoffs on the China–Kazakhstan–Azerbaijan–Georgia–Turkey corridor.

Source: Kazinform, 15 October 2026.