Neighbours in the South Caucasus should trade with each other, not fight with each other

Speaking jointly at a high level conference in Brussels on the Middle Corridor at the European Institute of Asian Studies on 24 November 2025, Dr Marat Terterov (BREC) and Dr Vusal Gasimli (Executive Director, Centre for Analysis of Economic Reforms of Azerbaijan) together endorsed a future focused on trade and investment for the countries of the South Caucasus region - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The two prominent experts had a clear message for the conference participants: "Neighbours should trade with each other, not fight with each other".

The event highlighted the Middle Corridor’s role as a bridge between East and West, its importance for integrated transport and energy connectivity, and its contribution to innovation, green logistics, and infrastructure development. Participants also gained perspectives on the geopolitical significance of the Corridor, its role in fostering cooperation on the international stage, and the potential for advancing education, research, and private sector engagement across the region. The Event helped discover how this strategic route is reshaping transportation, logistics, and economic cooperation.

Following the conference, Dr Terterov gave an extensive interview to mainstream Azerbaijani TV. He commented extensively on Azerbaijan positioning itself as a central trade and investment hub linking Central Asia to Europe via the Black Sea, with Baku taking substantial strides towards pragmatic regional leadership in economic terms. Dr Terterov's extensive comments can be viewed 27 minutes into the video:

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