A government delegation from Turkmenistan, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Nokerguly Atagulyev, visited Azerbaijan on 1 April to continue regional negotiations on the development of the ‘East–West’ route. Following discussions in Georgia, the focus in Baku was on the Caspian section of the Middle Corridor, reports the news agency Orient.

During meetings with Azerbaijani officials, the parties discussed strengthening cooperation in the fields of logistics, energy and investment, emphasising the importance of the partnership between Ashgabat and Baku for the sustainability of the transit route.

Particular attention was paid to the development of port and railway infrastructure. In particular, plans were considered for dredging at the port of Turkmenbashi to accommodate large-tonnage vessels and increase cargo throughput. The Turkmen delegation was also briefed on the experience of the Port of Baku, which handled over 100,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2024.

The digitalisation of transport was a separate topic of discussion. The parties noted that real-time data exchange between ports and railways would help speed up the transit of goods along the ‘East–West’ route.

Nokerguly Atagulyev’s series of visits to Georgia and Azerbaijan signals Turkmenistan’s shift towards a more active and technology-driven logistics policy. Against this backdrop, the coordination of the ports of Turkmenbashi, Baku and Georgian hubs is seen as part of a broader strategy to create a single transport space between Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe.