Doha:Participants in a panel discussion at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Annual Meeting emphasized the necessity of developing integrated regional networks for cross-border transport and trade. These networks are intended to support trade, boost investment, and enhance economic resilience and shared prosperity.
According to Qatar News Agency, the session featured key figures such as Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy and AIIB Governor Mikayil Jabbarov, President of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank Serhat Koksal, Georgia's Deputy Minister of Finance Ekaterine Guntsadze, AIIB International Advisory Panel member Yukon Huang, AIIB Chief Investment Officer Konstantin Limitovskiy, and Yalcin Eyigun from Turkey's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
The speakers highlighted that achieving full regional connectivity potential requires more than just physical infrastructure. It involves the creation of integrated transport and logistics systems, fostering stronger regional cooperation, leveraging digital innovation, and providing innovative financing to link markets and communities with cross-border investment opportunities.
The Middle Corridor, which facilitates goods transport between Asia and Europe, was cited as a practical example of transforming national investments into coordinated regional systems. The session explored how railways, ports, logistics hubs, and digital technologies could be integrated to streamline trade and enhance economic resilience against geopolitical and supply chain disruptions.
Discussions also focused on planning national projects as part of unified regional investment programs, reviewing requirements to make these corridors more reliable and competitive, and stressing the importance of government coordination and private capital mobilization.
Participants underscored the significance of regional cooperation and government coordination in the Caucasus and Central Asia to bolster economic security and sustain trade flows. Aligning national plans with broader regional objectives was deemed essential.
The meeting concluded with the notion that transport corridors have evolved into economic platforms that offer added value through the integration of digital infrastructure and financing solutions. Sustainable regional resilience hinges on coordinated planning beyond national borders.