CAREC Institute Contributes to the Discussion on the Development of Zangilan Corridor

Senior Research Specialist of the Research Division of the CAREC Institute, Dr. Ghulam Samad, was invited to present his paper at the International Conference “International Transport and Logistics Corridor: Development Impulses from Zangilan” on 16-17 November 2023 in Zangilan and Baku cities, Azerbaijan. The conference was organized by the Office of the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Jabrayil, Gubadli and Zangilan districts (the East Zangezur economic region), Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Academy of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Institute of Economics under the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Dr. Ghulam Samad presented his draft paper “Comparative Analysis of CAREC Corridors: Policy Recommendations for the Middle Corridor” with a historical (2010-2022) overview of CAREC Corridors Performance, Measurement and Monitoring (CPMM) measures of trade facilitation — “time taken to clear a border crossing point”, “cost incurred at border crossing clearance”, “cost incurred while traveling along a corridor section”, “speed of travel along a corridor section (with delay)”, “speed of travel along a corridor section (without delay).” He noted the importance of establishing a designated operation mechanism as an operating company for the Middle Corridor that will manage movements along the entire corridor and ensure adequate transport capacity. The operating company could be used as a single point of contact for the users. Policymakers should identify the congestion and blockage points for both the road and rail transport along the middle corridor and eliminate the bottlenecks to facilitate the trade. Furthermore, relevant agencies should implement digitalization initiatives not only at border crossing points but at the entire supply chain to facilitate the users and stakeholders.