The importance of the Middle Corridor is increasing rapidly in parallel with the multifaceted transformation taking place in today’s world. The geopolitical risks surrounding the Northern Corridor running through Russia, rising costs and time pressure in maritime transport, and Europe’s policies to diversify its supply chains have all made the Middle Corridor more attractive. In this new landscape, Türkiye has the potential to become not only a transit country, but a direct logistics center and regional hub.
Türkiye’s greatest advantage is undoubtedly its unique geographical location. Being positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the Caucasus and North Africa makes it a natural trade and logistics junction point. This advantage, however, has now gone beyond being merely a fact on the map; with the infrastructure investments that have been made, it has turned into a strategic strength that directly affects energy, trade and freight costs.
In recent years, the development of multimodal transport infrastructure – the Marmaray connection, the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line, increased Ro-Ro capacity, modern port investments and a strong road network – has made Türkiye a critical hub on both the east–west and north–south axes. In addition, thanks to Türkiye’s strong industrial and production base, not only transit transport but also a two-way, sustainable flow of trade is becoming possible.
To sum up, albeit an ambitious statement, Türkiye is steadily moving towards becoming a country at the heart of the Middle Corridor that not only is “passed through” but actually “shapes” it.
Coordination Is Needed to Resolve Operational Issues in the Region
The main challenges facing the Middle Corridor stem from technical and operational misalignments. Differences in track gauges, capacity constraints at transshipment hubs, port congestion, and customs procedures that vary from country to country all directly affect overall transit times and costs.
At this point, the key to the solution lies in strong regional coordination and a shared vision of governance.
First and foremost, at the level of governments, common protocols need to be established on issues such as track gauge, customs standards, data sharing and transit regimes. Similar to the European Union’s TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network) approach, it is of great importance that the Middle Corridor countries agree on a joint infrastructure and investment master plan.
In addition to this, there is a need for more integrated cooperation not only at the diplomatic level, but also at the operational level. Joint service planning, block train operations and idle capacity management should be carried out among railway operators, port authorities, Ro-Ro lines and major logistics companies. Especially at critical points such as the Caspian crossing, a centralized coordination structure would significantly speed up the process.
The third pillar is digitalization. A system in which cargo can be tracked in real time along the entire corridor and in which booking and customs procedures are integrated into a single digital platform will minimize both time losses and uncertainties. Türkiye has the infrastructure and experience to play a leading role in the design and management of this digital integration. At OMSAN Logistics, we position ourselves within this framework.
The Steps We Need to Take to Safeguard Our Logistics Advantage
In today’s world, logistics is not merely a matter of transportation; it is also a tool of geopolitical power, an economic lever and a strategic security component. I believe that, in order for Türkiye to maintain this advantage, it must focus on three main areas.
The first is the continuity of strategic infrastructure investments. Increasing the share of rail transport, strengthening port–rail integrations and ensuring the effective use of logistics villages will reduce costs and transit times while enhancing competitiveness.
The second is digital and green transformation, which is a critically important priority. Many markets, particularly in Europe, are demanding low-carbon and traceable logistics solutions. The development by Türkiye of low-carbon, technology-enabled and sustainable logistics services will provide a significant advantage in global competition.
The third is regional leadership and cooperation capacity. In major projects such as the Middle Corridor, the Development Road and Zangezur, Türkiye’s role should not be limited to that of a mere participant. It must assume an active and guiding role in every aspect, from the financing and management of these projects to their digital infrastructure and the definition of their standards.
In addition, training qualified human capital, strengthening university–industry cooperation and expanding specialized training programs in the field of logistics will be among the critical issues in the coming period.
In conclusion, if it takes the right steps, Türkiye has the potential to become a logistics hub not only at the regional, but also at the global level. Turning this potential into reality will be possible through determination, vision and coordination.
We must not lose sight of the fact that logistics trade corridors are not only a vehicle for economic integration, but also strategic infrastructure networks that support environmental sustainability and long-term development.
