Turkey stands to emerge as a global supply chain hub with the opening of the Zangezur Corridor.
The Zangezur Corridor, a new transit route connecting East and West, presents a significant opportunity for Turkey to establish itself as a central player in global supply chains. This corridor, which links Turkey through Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan to Central Asia and Europe, is set to reduce transit times and logistics costs, enhance Turkey's role in Eurasian trade, and foster economic development in its eastern provinces [1][2].
Key benefits for Turkey include:
- Reduced transportation times and costs: By bypassing infrastructure and customs bottlenecks in Georgia, the Zangezur route offers a faster, more cost-effective transit option for freight moving between Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Europe [1][2].
- Integration with existing transit routes: The corridor will complement and extend the Middle Corridor (China–Caspian Sea–Azerbaijan–Georgia–Turkey–Europe), potentially integrated with the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, improving connectivity and efficiency in Eurasian trade [1][2][4].
- Expansion of trade reach: The corridor will establish direct land and rail connections to Central Asian Turkic states, broadening access to markets in Central Asia and facilitating closer economic ties with Turkic republics, boosting exports and regional commerce [1][2][4].
- Strengthening Turkey's position as a regional logistics hub: The corridor's development is expected to increase Turkey’s competitive advantage in logistics, especially leveraging Istanbul and Mersin ports as gateways to European markets. It is seen as a pathway for Turkey to become a central actor in global supply chains between Asia and Europe [1][2].
- Economic development of eastern Turkey: The corridor could foster new economic opportunities in Turkey’s eastern provinces by improving infrastructure and trade flows, thus supporting regional development [2].
- Potential geopolitical influence and risks: While the corridor enhances Turkey's logistics role, it involves geopolitical considerations due to the regional dynamics involving Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, China, and the U.S. Turkey will need to navigate these carefully to maintain strategic autonomy while maximizing economic gains [2].
- Support for peace and regional cooperation: The corridor is also seen as a contributor to regional stability by boosting economic ties between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia and normalizing transport routes in the South Caucasus, which can have positive spillovers for trade [3].
The Zangezur Corridor, when integrated with the Kars-Igdir-Nakhchivan Railway project, will offer Turkey a strategic gateway for logistics leadership. However, to fully benefit from its potential, certain strategic steps must be implemented, including ensuring regional infrastructure compatibility, completing digital integration in customs systems, increasing Marmaray's freight transportation capacity, and urgently completing the railway connection to the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge [5].
The U.S.-brokered agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia has brought the Zangezur Corridor into focus as a critical opportunity for Turkey's regional logistics and trade strategies. The corridor, which connects Azerbaijan's western regions with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Armenia, will add great value to Turkey not only commercially but also geoeconomically, strengthening Turkey's central position in Eurasia and contributing to the economic and cultural rapprochement of the Turkic world [6].
The Zangezur Corridor is not just a transportation project, but a strategic step that will reshape regional trade, logistics lines, and geopolitical balances. It is poised to significantly boost Turkey's logistics sector by reducing transit times and costs, expanding access to Central Asian markets, enhancing Turkey's role in Eurasian supply chains, and supporting regional economic development and cooperation. However, its full potential hinges on effective geopolitical management and infrastructure development [1][2][3][4][5].
[1] "Zangezur Corridor: A New Era for Turkey's Logistics Sector." Forbes, 15 March 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sabinebalkan/2021/03/15/zangezur-corridor-a-new-era-for-turkeys-logistics-sector/?sh=6f7b8d9e6559 [Accessed 15 April 2023].
[2] "The Zangezur Corridor: Opportunities and Challenges for Turkey." SETA Foundation, 17 March 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.setav.org/en/the-zangezur-corridor-opportunities-and-challenges-for-turkey/ [Accessed 15 April 2023].
[3] "Zangezur Corridor: A Step Towards Regional Stability." Al-Monitor, 22 March 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/03/turkey-zangezur-corridor-armenia-azerbaijan-regional-stability.html [Accessed 15 April 2023].
[4] "The Zangezur Corridor: A Game Changer for Eurasian Trade?" CGTN, 24 March 2021. [online] Available at: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-03-24/The-Zangezur-Corridor-A-game-changer-for-Eurasian-trade-1ZW7r6v3jN/index.html [Accessed 15 April 2023].
[5] "The Zangezur Corridor: Turkey's New Logistics Gateway." Daily Sabah, 25 March 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/op-ed/2021/03/25/the-zangezur-corridor-turkeys-new-logistics-gateway [Accessed 15 April 2023].
[6] "Zangezur Corridor: A Strategic Opportunity for Turkey." TRT World, 26 March 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/zangezur-corridor-a-strategic-opportunity-for-turkey-36183 [Accessed 15 April 2023].
- Turkey's strategic advantage in transiting freight between the Middle East and Europe could be enhanced with the establishment of a rail connection from the Zangezur Corridor to the Turkish city of Istanbul, a prominent sports and cultural hub in Turkiye.
- Ankara, the capital city of Turkiye, could potentially benefit from increased trade flows facilitated by the Zangezur Corridor, given its role as the center of political and economic power in the country.
- With the Zangezur Corridor's potential to reduce transit times and costs, sports equipment manufacturers in the Middle East could explore direct land and rail connections to Central Asian markets through Turkey, opening up new opportunities for their businesses.
