BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Maersk is actively collaborating with key stakeholders involved in the Middle Corridor project, primarily railway companies such as Kazakhstan Railways and Azerbaijan Railways, Irakli Danelia, Central Asia and Caucasus Region Business Development Manager at Maerks, told Trend.
"We are also working closely with Chinese counterparts to establish a competitive and efficient corridor for local customers, regional clients, and international companies. Our objective is to facilitate seamless transportation services from east to west, with a particular emphasis on supporting and enhancing logistical solutions for local markets," he said.
According to the development manager, previously, Maersk's main focus was on transit cargoes between China and Europe. However, now the company has expanded its focus to include local markets such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and others.
"In September 2023, we officially launched the ocean-rail connect product, which provides connectivity for Central Asia through the Poti seaport, spanning Georgian, Azerbaijani, and Kazakhstani territories, reaching Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Additionally, we are developing direct solutions from China to Central Asia. Thus, the Middle Corridor initiative is a focal point for us, encompassing both the Western and Eastern ends of the corridor," Danelia noted.
He pointed out that, currently, Maersk has strategic cooperation agreements with countries including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
"This means we are planning to shift our regular business operations to this corridor, which will undoubtedly support the macroeconomic development of these countries and enhance the potential of logistical services in Central Asian and Caucasian countries. When it comes to logistics, our focus is not solely on transportation from point A to point B. Instead, we aim to provide additional services such as first-mile and last-mile solutions within these countries. This approach signifies our commitment to developing the corridor and the countries involved from a comprehensive logistical perspective," he explained.
