Tashkent and Tbilisi discuss transport links and Middle Corridor cooperation

According to a statement from the Uzbek Ministry of Transport, the Georgian government is now reviewing the possibility of expanding its involvement in the Middle Corridor initiative.

On July 23, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Transport, Ilhom Makhkamov, held talks with Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili. The two sides discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in road and rail transportation, as well as the development of international multimodal transport routes using Georgian seaports.

Makhkamov also emphasized the importance of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project and, considering its potential integration into the global transport corridor system – particularly the Middle Corridor – proposed that Georgia explore the possibility of participating in the project.

In addition, the ministers discussed increasing the number of direct flights between tourist cities in Uzbekistan and Georgia in order to boost tourism cooperation.

The total length of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway is 532.53 km, including 158.04 km through China (Kashgar–Torugart), 304.94 km through Kyrgyzstan (167.54 km with a track gauge of 1,435 mm), and 138.77 km through Uzbekistan (with a 1,520 mm gauge).

The project is estimated to require $4.7 billion in investment and will create jobs for more than 20,000 workers.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on December 27, 2024, in Jalal-Abad. The presidents of the three countries – Sadyr Japarov, Xi Jinping, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev – all underscored the future railway’s strategic significance for the region and the wider world.

Construction of key infrastructure for the railway began in late April in Suzak district of Kyrgyzstan’s Jalal-Abad region.