CAIRO, July 27. /Dunyo IA/.  Egyptian publication “see.news” (English-language version of “Sada ElBalad”) has published an article titled “Through the Caspian to New Markets. Development of “Central Asia Plus” Formats”, focusing on the role of Uzbekistan in advancing regional dialogue platforms into a new format with the participation of Azerbaijan, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Publication notes that at the Seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia in Tashkent in November 2025, a decision was made regarding Azerbaijan’s full participation in the regional dialogue, while the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, proposed transforming the consultative format into a strategic “Central Asian Community” with a rotating secretariat. Uzbekistan also put forward initiatives to develop a regional trade program until 2035, establish a common investment space and create an Infrastructure Development Council.

As noted in the article, Uzbekistan’s mutual trade with the countries of the region reached US$8.3 billion in 2025, while trade turnover with Azerbaijan increased 9.5-fold during 2017–2025, reaching US$307.3 million. Particular attention is paid to the Middle Corridor via the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan as an alternative transport route to the markets of the Caucasus, Türkiye, and Europe. According to the World Bank, by 2030, freight traffic along the corridor could triple, while delivery times could be reduced by half.

Future significance of the format will depend on the extent to which the transport agenda is complemented by industrial cooperation, in particular through the establishment of joint production zones along the corridor, “see.news” concludes.