Ukraine’s international television channel FREEDOM prepared a report on the 5th International Conference and Exhibition “Black and Caspian Freight Forum 2026: Corridors, Infrastructure, Investments,” organized by RDL Group and held in Baku on September 7–9, 2026. In the report, Orkhan Yolchuev, Director of the CASPIA Analytical Center, spoke about the importance of international transport connectivity and Ukraine’s growing potential within the architecture of the Middle Corridor. This year, CASPIA served as a Business Program Partner of the forum. The overall objective was to bring together international businesses, government institutions, international financial organizations, and the expert community.

Orkhan Yolchuev noted that the Ukrainian business initiative brought together representatives of the Black Sea and Caspian regions, the Caucasus, the United States, Europe, and Central Asia in Azerbaijan. According to him, this demonstrates that Ukraine is not on the periphery of the processes shaping the emerging architecture of international transport connectivity.

According to Yolchuev, businesses today need more than simply cheaper routes — they need stable and predictable supply routes. Traditional corridors running through Russia and Iran face significant risks, affecting the willingness of businesses and financial institutions to invest in long-term transport projects. “We are seeing the emergence of a new stable axis between Europe and Asia, between the West and the East. And that is the key point today: business does not simply need a cheap route; it needs a stable route,” he said.

The expert also highlighted Ukraine’s potential. With access to the Black Sea and connections to Georgian ports, Ukraine could become an important western segment of the Middle Corridor and a link connecting Europe with the Caucasus and Central Asia. In his assessment, the integration of Ukrainian and Georgian ports could create a promising route extending through Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan and onward to China. “I believe that in the future, Ukraine could become the western gateway of the Middle Corridor to Europe,” Yolchuev said.

At the same time, Ukraine could be viewed not only as a transit territory but also as a major source and destination of cargo. Ukrainian food products, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and other goods could potentially reach Central Asian markets via Ukrainian ports. In this context, the development of the Ukraine–Black Sea–Georgia–Azerbaijan–Central Asia connectivity chain could create new opportunities for trade and further strengthen transport links between East and West.

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