Irakli Kobakhidze and Abdulla Aripov. Photo: Press Service of the Uzbek Government
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, during a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart Abdulla Aripov on March 5 in Tashkent, proposed jointly developing the Middle Transport Corridor. The government press service of the South Caucasus nation reported on the discussion.
Kobakhidze emphasized Georgia’s strategic location as a bridge between Europe and Asia, as well as between the East and the West. He stated that Georgia seeks to maximize the potential of the Middle Corridor and believes that a partnership with Uzbekistan in this area could be beneficial and productive.
The two prime ministers acknowledged the positive trends in trade and investment between their countries. Seizing the opportunity, Kobakhidze invited Aripov to visit Georgia in return.
According to the press service of Uzbekistan’s prime minister, discussions in Tashkent focused on increasing bilateral trade. Both sides agreed that trade volume has the potential to reach $1 billion in the coming years.
This goal could be achieved by expanding trade in textiles, leather goods, food products, electrical equipment, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, fruits and vegetables, construction materials, and more. The leaders also expressed interest in cooperation in agriculture, tourism, education, transport, and logistics.
Regional partnerships were also on the agenda, with an emphasis on strengthening ties between Samarkand and Batumi, as well as Bukhara and Mtskheta. Kobakhidze and Aripov highlighted that such collaborations could significantly contribute to economic and trade relations.
Following the meeting of the Uzbek-Georgian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, several agreements were signed, including a memorandum of understanding on government procurement partnership and a “roadmap” for cooperation in agricultural projects.
Kobakhidze also met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The leaders noted the increasing engagement between their governments and parliaments. Key achievements include a 50% rise in bilateral trade last year, the growing number of joint ventures and cargo shipments, and the operation of a digital bank in Uzbekistan with Georgian investment. Humanitarian ties are also strengthening, as demonstrated by the success of Uzbek Culture and Film Days held in Tbilisi in 2024.
Both sides emphasized the importance of continued collaboration in various fields and discussed the practical implementation of their agreements.
The Middle Corridor (also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or TITR) connects China and Europe via Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. The route spans 11,000 kilometers and has an annual capacity ranging from 4.5 million to 27 million tons. It utilizes rail and maritime transport across the Caspian Sea and has been operational since 2017.
In December 2022, Uzbekistan used the Middle Corridor for the first time to ship goods to Europe.
