ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) From Tashkent to Tbilisi: Mirziyoyev’s Georgia Visit Signals a New Era for the Middle Corridor and Regional Connectivity

By Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director, Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), Islamabad

ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid his first ever state visit to Georgia on 2-3 July 2026. This visit carries great significance as the Uzbek President visited Georgia after 23 years. In Tbilisi, H.E. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met Georgian President His Excellency Mikheil Kavelashvili, and the Georgian Prime Minister His Excellency Irakli Kobakhidze. For the rest of the world, it was just a 2-day visit of the President of Uzbekistan but for experts this visit signaled the growing role of Uzbekistan in linking Europe and Central Asia. Uzbekistan is pursuing an active foreign policy. Its relations are not limited to the region or the neighboring countries only. It is trying to build partnerships beyond the region. H.E. President Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Georgia is the best examples of Uzbekistan’s proactive foreign policy. During the visit, a strategic partnership agreement was signed between the two countries. At the same time both the sides also signed a series of agreements and memoranda aimed at deepening cooperation between Georgia and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Key areas included trade, tourism, information and communication technologies, and e-permits. These agreements show that Tashkent’s commitment to expanding ties across various fields.

Transport and logistics development along the Middle Corridor was one of the key topics discussed during the visit. The Middle Corridor, officially called the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), is a multimodal trade route. It connects East Asia with Europe through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and Türkiye. It is called the “Middle” Corridor because, geographically, it is located between the Northern Corridor and the Southern Corridor. China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and European countries such as Romania and Bulgaria form the backbone of the corridor. Now the question is, why was the Middle Corridor given special importance during the state visit of President Mirziyoyev to Georgia? First, the global trade patterns are changing. Modes of transport and movement are changing. Countries are looking for new partners who can offer them secure, fast, and reliable trade routes. In this regard, Middle Corridor provides an alternative route. Second, Georgia is indispensable to the Middle Corridor. Georgia links the Caspian region to Türkiye and then to Europe. Third, Uzbekistan is a landlocked country. Finding efficient trade routes giving it access to international markets has always been a challenge for it. Taking this into account, Georgia’s ports of Poti and Batumi can provide direct access to Uzbekistan to the Black Sea, thereby acting as Uzbekistan’s gateway to Europe. Therefore, deeper cooperation means that Uzbek products can reach European markets more quickly, while European goods can move more efficiently into Central Asia. This creates benefits for businesses, consumers and investors on both sides. Fourth, the Middle Corridor is not just a trade corridor or a transport route. It is a vision of regional cooperation that covers Central Asia, East Asia, Caspian Region, South Caucasus and the Europe. Its development and the improved rails, roads, and ports will not only make trade fast and smooth but will also encourage businesses to invest with greater confidence. This improved connectivity will strengthen economic growth across various regions.

The efforts of His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev deserves significant credit. His extraordinary leadership and the farsightedness have made Uzbekistan one of the most active countries in Central Asia. Thanks to his dedicated leadership that the country is working on modern and smart infrastructure, green and clean technology, IT Parks, developmental projects, hosting international forums such as TIIF, expanding regional trade, and enjoying strong relations with neighboring countries. The visit to Georgia reflects Uzbekistan’s long-term strategy of building partnerships based on mutual benefit rather than competition. It also demonstrates that geography should not limit the engagement between the countries. Uzbekistan and Georgia are not geographically connected but through this Middle Corridor, they are creating a route that will be beneficial for many counties.

Their partnership demonstrates how diplomacy, trust and shared economic interests can produce practical results.

For Pakistan, these developments hold enormous promise. Pakistan and the Central Asian countries enjoy brotherly relations. Pakistan’s geographic location, its ports on the Arabian Sea, and a large domestic and lucrative market offer great economic benefits to Central Asian states. Stronger connectivity has always been the key to unlocking this potential. The growing transport network connecting Central Asia with the Caucasus and Europe creates opportunities that Pakistan should carefully study. In addition, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have cordial ties. Both countries have repeatedly expressed their desire to increase trade, improve transport connectivity and deepen strategic cooperation. As Uzbekistan strengthens its links with Georgia and the wider Middle Corridor, Pakistan can also benefit by becoming an active partner in regional logistics and commerce.

In future, if regional transport projects continue to develop alongside initiatives such as the Trans-Afghan Railway, Pakistan could become an important southern gateway for Central Asian countries seeking access to global markets through Arabian Sea ports. At the same time, Pakistan would gain improved access to Central Asian markets and eventually to the Caucasus and Europe. Such connectivity would encourage investment, create employment opportunities and increase regional trade.

The importance of these projects is not limited to economics only. Greater connectivity will eventually lead to people-to-people exchanges, tourism, educational exchanges and regional stability.

Hence, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s 2-day state visit to Georgia was a historic visit, a diplomatic milestone and most importantly a reflection of vision of a more connected, cooperative, and economically integrated Eurasia. As the Middle Corridor continues to gain strategic importance, partnerships like that between Uzbekistan and Georgia will help reshape regional trade and connectivity. For countries such as Pakistan, these developments present a timely opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation and become part of an emerging network that promises shared prosperity, greater stability, and long-term economic growth.