Azerbaijan's Zangezur Corridor could reach 865,000 TEU by 2040, enhancing trade links between Europe and Central Asia, says Deputy PM Sharifov.
Cargo traffic along Azerbaijan's planned Zangezur Corridor could reach 865,000 TEU by 2040, Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov told the New Silk Road forum in Dubai, reports Kiev's Interfax.
Mr. Sharifov described the corridor, also called the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, as strategically important for linking Europe and Central Asia. He stated that the project could provide reliable communication and generate significant container volumes once completed.
He noted that cargo transport along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route rose by 11 percent in 2025, while traffic on the International North-South Transport Corridor grew by 12 percent.
The modernization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway has lifted its annual capacity to five million tonnes, and the expansion of the Baku International Sea Trade Port aims to raise throughput to 25 million tonnes per year. Container traffic at the port increased by 40 percent last year to 107,000 TEU.
Mr. Sharifov urged greater cooperation on digitalizing border crossings and harmonizing customs procedures, stressing the need for coordination between Central Asian and South Caucasus states.
The Zangezur Corridor will connect mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, providing access to Turkey and Europe. Azerbaijan plans to complete railway and road infrastructure in 2026, with President Ilham Aliyev stating that the corridor could launch by the end of 2028. Cargo volumes are projected at 15 million tonnes annually.
