Future Potential of Trans-Caspian Corridor: Review

<i>Background:</i> The Middle Corridor, a transport route from Asia to Europe that also facilitates major energy projects through the Caspian Sea and its surrounding countries, has gained even more attention after the intensification of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. <i>Methods:&...

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Main Authors: Riina Palu, Olli-Pekka Hilmola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Logistics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/7/3/39
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author Riina Palu
Olli-Pekka Hilmola
author_facet Riina Palu
Olli-Pekka Hilmola
author_sort Riina Palu
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background:</i> The Middle Corridor, a transport route from Asia to Europe that also facilitates major energy projects through the Caspian Sea and its surrounding countries, has gained even more attention after the intensification of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. <i>Methods:</i> On the basis of major scientific papers on the topic, foreign policy addresses from <i>The Diplomat</i> and studies by the <i>United Nations and Asian Development Bank Institute</i>, a framework with five aspects was created. In addition, two interviews with sector stakeholders were conducted to apply the framework and determine the relevance of the route to Finnish and Estonian economies. <i>Results:</i> A multifaceted overview of the current economic, political, and infrastructural state of the Trans-Caspian trade route is given. The practical value of the article lies in creating a framework for evaluating the route for related economies and testing this out for the Finnish and Estonian economies. <i>Conclusions:</i> Despite the challenges, there are enormous opportunities in this logistics route, especially with the restrictions facing Russia due to western bloc sanctions. Finland and Estonia, however, are suffering under the effects of war in Ukraine and the related sanctions, which has hindered the capacity to further enhance development projects.
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spelling doaj.art-0bc379e5ccc840938ac3c82b6b4aae2e2023-11-19T11:38:56ZengMDPI AGLogistics2305-62902023-07-01733910.3390/logistics7030039Future Potential of Trans-Caspian Corridor: ReviewRiina Palu0Olli-Pekka Hilmola1Kouvola Unit, LUT University, Kauppalankatu 13, FIN-45100 Kouvola, FinlandKouvola Unit, LUT University, Kauppalankatu 13, FIN-45100 Kouvola, Finland<i>Background:</i> The Middle Corridor, a transport route from Asia to Europe that also facilitates major energy projects through the Caspian Sea and its surrounding countries, has gained even more attention after the intensification of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. <i>Methods:</i> On the basis of major scientific papers on the topic, foreign policy addresses from <i>The Diplomat</i> and studies by the <i>United Nations and Asian Development Bank Institute</i>, a framework with five aspects was created. In addition, two interviews with sector stakeholders were conducted to apply the framework and determine the relevance of the route to Finnish and Estonian economies. <i>Results:</i> A multifaceted overview of the current economic, political, and infrastructural state of the Trans-Caspian trade route is given. The practical value of the article lies in creating a framework for evaluating the route for related economies and testing this out for the Finnish and Estonian economies. <i>Conclusions:</i> Despite the challenges, there are enormous opportunities in this logistics route, especially with the restrictions facing Russia due to western bloc sanctions. Finland and Estonia, however, are suffering under the effects of war in Ukraine and the related sanctions, which has hindered the capacity to further enhance development projects.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/7/3/39Middle CorridorCaspian Sea transportrailwaysBelt and Road Initiativetransportation infrastructureEstonia
spellingShingle Riina Palu
Olli-Pekka Hilmola
Future Potential of Trans-Caspian Corridor: Review
Logistics
Middle Corridor
Caspian Sea transport
railways
Belt and Road Initiative
transportation infrastructure
Estonia
title Future Potential of Trans-Caspian Corridor: Review
title_full Future Potential of Trans-Caspian Corridor: Review
title_fullStr Future Potential of Trans-Caspian Corridor: Review
title_full_unstemmed Future Potential of Trans-Caspian Corridor: Review
title_short Future Potential of Trans-Caspian Corridor: Review
title_sort future potential of trans caspian corridor review
topic Middle Corridor
Caspian Sea transport
railways
Belt and Road Initiative
transportation infrastructure
Estonia
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/7/3/39
work_keys_str_mv AT riinapalu futurepotentialoftranscaspiancorridorreview
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