World Bank: second Middle Corridor report — 27 September

8 September 2026 — Trend quoted Luis Blancas (World Bank) at the Black and Caspian Freight Forum 2026 in Baku: a second flagship Middle Corridor report is due. The first WB report (2023) covered 3 countries; the new one covers all 9 corridor countries, all cargo types, infrastructure, services, cross-border cooperation and trade facilitation.

Publication: 27 September 2026; first presentation 1 October in Tbilisi (with a broadcast); later possible stops include Astana, Türkiye and Baku.

The report lists 16 priority investments totalling about $25 billion; more than three-quarters are already underway. Examples from the remarks: an alternative Bosphorus crossing (~$8.2 billion with partners); the Divriği–Georgia border pinch (~660 km of rail, modernisation ~$1.2 billion WB/AIIB/IsDB); Poti container terminal at ~98% utilisation; Anaklia as a priority with WB and ADB involvement.

For OOG, skip the headline TEU and look for ferry/ramp, permits and the Black Sea exit after the Caspian.