The Director of CASPIA Analytical Center Orkhan Yolchuyev took part in the 4th Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security.

The speech focused on the growing importance of transport and logistics connectivity in Eurasia, highlighting the strategic potential of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Belarus. It was emphasized that transport corridors should not be viewed merely as routes for moving goods, but as instruments of industrial development, access to new markets, and greater economic resilience.

Particular attention was paid to the complementary economic and geographical advantages of Azerbaijan and Belarus. Belarus has considerable industrial capacity, particularly in machinery, equipment manufacturing, and engineering, while Azerbaijan occupies a strategic position at the crossroads of major regional transport routes. Closer cooperation could therefore help expand the geographical reach of Belarusian industrial production while strengthening the economic substance of Azerbaijan’s transit infrastructure.

As an example of successful industrial cooperation, the speaker referred to the long-standing partnership between Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) and the Ganja Automobile Plant. Over nearly two decades, approximately 15,000 Belarusian tractors have been assembled in Ganja. Further development of this partnership could include increasing local component production, expanding maintenance and repair services, professional training, and jointly promoting products in third-country markets.

The North–South International Transport Corridor was also highlighted as a major avenue for strengthening Eurasian connectivity. The route linking Belarus with Iran through Russia and Azerbaijan could create additional opportunities for trade and logistics. In this context, the completion of the approximately 162-kilometre Rasht–Astara railway section in Iran remains particularly important. The speaker stressed that political commitment and strategic alignment must be accompanied by the practical implementation of infrastructure projects.

A particularly prominent topic of discussion at the conference was the TRIPP initiative and its potential impact on the future of regional and transregional connectivity. The discussion explored how TRIPP could contribute to the development of transport and logistics infrastructure not only in the South Caucasus but also across a much wider Eurasian space. Its potential links with existing and emerging routes could support the diversification of trade flows, create new opportunities for regional cooperation, and strengthen connections between the Caspian region, Türkiye, the Middle East, and beyond.

The speaker also addressed the broader prospects for integrating different transport networks, including the North–South Corridor, the Middle Corridor, and emerging connectivity initiatives in the Middle East. In this regard, the development of routes through Nakhchivan, as well as potential connections through Armenia and Türkiye, could further expand the region’s logistics capacity and open access to new markets, including the Persian Gulf.

It was underlined that the successful implementation of such initiatives requires respect for sovereignty, mutually agreed arrangements, and the consistent development of physical infrastructure. Transport connectivity should generate tangible economic benefits for all participating countries and contribute to long-term regional stability.

Concluding his remarks, the CASPIA Director emphasized that Azerbaijan and Belarus have the potential to become important partners in shaping new Eurasian economic and logistics networks, connecting Eastern Europe, the Caspian region, the South Caucasus, and the Persian Gulf.