BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Transport infrastructures along the Middle Corridor require significant investments to be operationalized, Giulia Cretti, research associate at the Clingendael Institute, told Trend in an exclusive interview.
She said the development of this transcontinental trade route is essential for expanding Dutch manufacturing and green investment in Kazakhstan, as it offers a key overland connection between Central Asia and Europe. Dutch businesses are increasingly exploring opportunities in Kazakhstan’s regions, but the full potential of this engagement depends on both physical connectivity and the broader investment climate.
“To encourage a greater involvement from the Dutch private sector, there is a need to increase the transparency and predictability of the business climate through regulatory reforms. De-risking mechanisms and incentives at the EU level are also crucial to attract the private sector,” Cretti said.
The Clingendael expert added that a sanctions-free, secure transportation route would scale up Dutch manufacturing and green investment in Kazakhstan.
The Middle Corridor serves as a pivotal nexus for intercontinental logistics and commerce, facilitating the transcontinental flow of goods between Asia and Europe while traversing multiple sovereign territories within the geopolitical landscape. This represents a divergent pathway from the conventional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor frameworks. The trajectory initiates in the People's Republic of China and traverses through the Central Asian republics, including the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The trajectory subsequently traverses the Caspian Sea, navigating through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye prior to its culmination in Europe.
