The World Bank Group has published a report setting out the investments and policy reforms needed to develop the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor into a faster and more reliable trade route between Asia and Europe. Strategic investment could more than triple trade volumes, halve travel times, raise gross domestic product across the corridor countries by 3.3% and create 2 million additional jobs by 2040. Pairing infrastructure upgrades with reforms to trade and transport operations could quadruple volumes and reduce travel times by two-thirds. The report estimates that more than USD 25 billion in physical infrastructure investment will be required through 2040, primarily for rail networks, ports and feeder roads, alongside USD 30 billion for connecting links, logistics hubs, inland terminals, equipment and digital systems. It calls for a single digital corridor system, an integrated commercial operator linking rail freight and Trans-Caspian shipping, stronger corridor-wide coordination and modernization of state-owned rail, port and shipping companies. These measures would reduce border delays, simplify documentation and improve service reliability across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Source: 2026-09-28World Bank
World Bank maps USD 55 billion investment needs and reforms to quadruple Trans-Caspian trade by 2040
The World Bank estimates that USD 55 billion in infrastructure and enabling investment, combined with operational reforms, could quadruple Trans-Caspian trade volumes and cut travel times by two-thirds by 2040. Priorities include integrated digital processing, coordinated rail and shipping services, stronger corridor governance and modernization of state-owned transport operators.