Istanbul, 29 June 2025 — Deputy Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Mr. Farid Damirli, participated in the Global Transport Connectivity Forum held under the theme “Seamless Connectivity, Limitless Possibilities” from 27 to 29 June 2025 in Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye.
The Forum, organized with the support of the Government of Türkiye, the World Bank and other international partners, brought together over 300 participants, including ministers of transport, heads of international organizations and representatives from academia and the private sector.
President of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially opened the Forum, stressing the importance of the Middle Corridor as a key East-West trade route aligned with the Belt and Road Initiative. The President underlined the corridor’s potential to reduce transit times from 35–45 days to under 15 days and generate significant economic benefits.
During the key panel session “The Evolving Geometry of the Middle Corridor: New Gateways, New Possibilities,” Mr. Farid Damirli underscored the strategic importance of CICA as a pan-Asian platform comprising 28 Member States. He highlighted the impact of geopolitical disruptions on global supply chains and the growing relevance of secure, sustainable corridors. He elaborated on CICA’s work under the Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures, including the updated Concept Paper on secure and effective transport corridors for 2025–2027, and Kazakhstan’s proposal to establish the CICA Council on Sustainable Connectivity.
Special attention was given to the initiatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as the current CICA Chair, which include organizing a conference on the digitalization of transport corridors and a meeting of port authorities.
The Forum featured interventions by representatives from TRACECA, Serbia, Malaysia, Cambodia and the Turkish logistics operator Pacific Eurasia. Discussions focused on infrastructure modernization, digital logistics and the harmonization of transport regulations.
The event concluded with the signing of 12 cooperation agreements, including a landmark deal between Turkish and Syrian delegations to resume direct road transport. Participants emphasized the need for closer collaboration among governments, financial institutions and the private sector to address investment gaps and promote sustainable and inclusive development in the logistics sector.
