BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. The Trump Route for Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is expected to generate opportunities not only for large corporations, but also small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the U.S., Natig Bakhishov, Executive Director of the United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC), said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
He pointed out that the Ambassadorial Roundtable hosted by USACC marked an important milestone, bringing together diplomatic missions, senior U.S. government officials, and the private sector to discuss the TRIPP vision for the first time since its announcement by President Trump during the August Summit with President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
“The overarching objective of TRIPP – contributing to
sustainable peace by securing prosperity through trade, business,
and connectivity, was consistently reflected in the perspectives
shared by ambassadors from the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Since its initial announcement, TRIPP has evolved from what was
perceived as a country-specific initiative into a broader regional
framework, one that has the potential to attract increased U.S.
commercial engagement across the region,” said Bakhishov.
The USACC Executive Director believes that once fully developed,
TRIPP can serve as an important commercial pillar of the Middle
Corridor.
“We were particularly encouraged by the openness of U.S.
government agencies to engage directly with the private sector on
shaping the future of TRIPP. The USACC roundtable demonstrated this
openness, with senior officials from the Departments of State and
Commerce, as well as the U.S. International Development Finance
Corporation (DFC), engaging in candid and substantive
discussions.
In terms of alignment, we were equally encouraged by the degree to
which participating countries’ views converged around regional
connectivity, expanded trade, and deeper U.S. commercial
engagement. While national priorities naturally differ, there was a
shared, forward-looking consensus on the strategic value of TRIPP
as a regional framework,” he said.
Bakhishov noted that TRIPP possesses the essential elements –
strong U.S. government backing and clear commercial aspirations, to
make a meaningful contribution to the future development of the
regional connectivity.
“A key advantage of TRIPP, reflecting President Trump’s
business-oriented approach, is that it moves beyond traditional
connectivity concepts by integrating infrastructure investment,
regulatory coordination, and private-sector participation into a
unified strategic framework.
The long-term success of TRIPP will depend on the extent to which
it is embedded within a broader regional framework, requiring close
coordination among governments, local businesses, and U.S.
stakeholders. In this context, U.S. support for integration and
harmonization efforts across the region will be critical,” said the
USACC Executive Director.
Bakhishov noted that it is encouraging to see TRIPP emerging as
a defining element of renewed U.S. engagement in the South Caucasus
and Central Asia, reinforcing both economic connectivity and
broader strategic interests.
“The core concept of TRIPP – advancing peace and prosperity through
commerce and connectivity, fully aligns with the principles
underpinning Azerbaijan’s long-standing approach to regional
connectivity. Since regaining independence following the collapse
of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has consistently invested in
regional integration through flagship projects such as the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and
extensive investments in regional and domestic infrastructure.
These efforts underscore Azerbaijan’s experience and leadership in
advancing regional trade and transit initiatives. As a result,
Azerbaijan’s role and expertise are essential to the success of any
regional connectivity framework, including TRIPP, and this
contribution is well recognized and appreciated by the United
States,” he said.
The USACC Executive Director went on to add that at this stage, U.S. companies interested in the region are closely monitoring developments on the ground, seeking clarity on emerging opportunities associated with renewed U.S. engagement.
“In this process, chambers of commerce and trade associations
play a critical role by organizing trade missions, conferences, and
sector-specific engagements that help identify concrete commercial
opportunities.
As Armenia and Azerbaijan move steadily toward peace, early
confidence-building measures, including initial cross-border
transactions, are sending positive signals to international
investors. This growing stability enhances the region’s
attractiveness as a business destination. We anticipate that TRIPP
will generate opportunities not only for large U.S. corporations
such as Google and Bechtel, but also for small and medium-sized
American enterprises capable of delivering high-value commercial
solutions,” he said.
Further, speaking about TRIPP in a broader context, Bakhishov noted that while the Middle Corridor offers significantly shorter transit times than existing routes, its multi-country and multimodal nature presents specific challenges.
“Addressing these challenges requires bold and coordinated
action by corridor countries to strengthen regulatory alignment,
harmonize procedures, and streamline services.
During our recent U.S. Business Delegation to the Middle Corridor
in September 2025, we observed several promising multilateral
initiatives, including efforts to introduce single-window customs
platforms, plans to establish joint customs checkpoints, and a
range of other practical measures aimed at facilitating
cross-border trade,” he said.
The USACC Executive Director pointed out that against the backdrop
of renewed U.S. engagement and the introduction of the TRIPP
vision, U.S. government agencies and American companies can play an
important role in advancing regional connectivity.
“USACC views its primary role as facilitating commercial
dialogue between the United States, Azerbaijan, and the broader
region. The Ambassadorial Roundtable was one such initiative. We
also actively support Azerbaijan’s private-sector engagement with
U.S. financial institutions, including the U.S. International
Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
This year, on March 10, USACC will celebrate its 30th anniversary
in Washington, D.C., bringing together U.S. and Azerbaijani
government officials and private-sector leaders. We believe the
anniversary conference will serve as another high-level platform
for dialogue and for advancing concrete commercial discussions
between the two countries,” he said.
As for the possible role of the U.S. International Development
Finance Corporation (DFC)
in crowding in private investment for TRIPP, Bakhishov recalled
that in late 2025, DFC was successfully reauthorized as part of the
FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, significantly expanding
its mandate and capacity.
“Since its initial authorization in 2018, DFC’s investment cap
has increased from $60 billion to over $200 billion, underscoring
the Administration’s vision for DFC as a global strategic finance
institution. Operational reforms have enhanced DFC’s agility by
simplifying approval procedures and reducing bureaucratic barriers.
Under the new provisions, DFC can invest more readily in
upper-middle-income countries and, with presidential approval, even
in high-income economies, particularly where investments support
U.S. supply chains, critical minerals, and strategic
infrastructure.
In this context, we anticipate increased U.S. investment across the
South Caucasus and Central Asia, particularly in infrastructure,
critical minerals, and rare earth elements. It is encouraging that
several existing projects in the region already align well with
DFC’s expanded mandate,” he explained.
Bakhishov highlighted that unlike other regional connectivity
initiatives, TRIPP is designed as a public-private model that
combines strong U.S. government backing with active participation
by American companies.
“This dual structure positions the region not merely as a
transit route, but as a viable business and investment destination.
TRIPP can significantly strengthen the commercial dimension of the
Middle Corridor, while the Corridor itself provides the broader
geostrategic context for TRIPP. In its initial phase, TRIPP could
facilitate the opening of alternative transit routes between the
Caspian and Black Seas through Armenia, Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan),
and Türkiye. Over time, this concept could be fully integrated into
the broader Middle Corridor, extending its strategic relevance
across a geography spanning from Central Asia to Europe.
Such an approach would ensure sustained U.S. public- and
private-sector engagement, not only in discrete segments of
regional connectivity, but across the broader Central Eurasian
trade architecture,” the USACC Executive Director concluded.