GKG Law the Only Law Firm Member of Department of Commerce Trade Mission to Central Asia and South Caucasus

October 1, 2025

By GKG Law

GKG Law last month was the only law firm member of the Department of Commerce sponsored U.S. Business Delegation to the Middle Corridor, a week-long trade mission to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia that brought together U.S. trade and logistics companies with their regional counterparts and high-ranking government officials. The mission was organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan, the United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce, and the America-Georgia Business Council.

The Middle Corridor is a multimodal trade route spanning Central Asia and the South Caucasus and transiting the Caspian Sea. Delegation member and GKG Law attorney John H. Kester mirrored the route of Middle Corridor cargo, crossing the Caspian Sea from Aktau, Kazakhstan to Alat, Azerbaijan via overnight cargo ferry, and eventually continuing overland to Tbilisi, Georgia.

Once part of the ancient Silk Road, the Middle Corridor has garnered renewed interest and infrastructural development as a result of U.S. sanctions on Russia and Iran, which have complicated cargo movement through those countries and increased transit times. Ocean routes around Asia and through the Suez Canal have been threatened by rebel attacks and piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Cargo transiting the Middle Corridor averages just 14-18 days from China to Europe, compared with 19 days via Russia and more than 30 days by ocean routes, according to Caspian Policy Center. Trade volumes in the Middle Corridor surged from 586,000 tons in 2021 to 3.3 million in 2024, an increase of nearly 500% in three years, according to Trans-Caspian International Transport Route figures. During the same period, container volumes more than doubled from 25,200 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 56,500 TEUs, according to that organization. Middle Corridor capacity remains significantly lower than that of competing routes, but regional governments and private enterprise are working to build up port, rail, and warehousing infrastructure to meet future demand.

As part of the Delegation, Mr. Kester spoke personally with the U.S. chargés d’affaires to each of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia and attended face-to-face meetings with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Transport, the Chairman of its State Customs Committee, the Chairman of its national railway, Georgia’s Minister and Deputy Minister of Economy, and the Deputy Governor of Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region, through whose ports cargo travels across the Caspian.

The mission highlighted GKG Law’s trade and sanctions practices as well as its specific experience representing clients in the region, and provided an opportunity to share knowledge with regional transportation and logistics companies and financial institutions. Should you have any questions regarding GKG Law’s sanctions, transportation, and logistics practice areas or related to the Delegation itself, please contact John H. Kester at jkester@gkglaw.com.

To read additional coverage of the Delegation as relayed by news articles and U.S. and foreign releases, please see further reading below. (GKG Law does not vouch for accuracy nor does it endorse the opinions of outside persons.)

  1. Mangystau.news, 09/05/2025: “Американская бизнес-делегация ознакомилась с логистической инфраструктурой Мангистауской области”
  2. Port of Baku, 09/07/2025: “Бизнес-делегация из США посетила Бакинский порт”
  3. Lada.kz, 09/06/2025: “Американские компании изучают возможности Среднего коридора: делегация начала визит с Актау”
  4. OTPANNEWS.kz, 09/06/2025: “Транзитный потенциал Мангистау был представлен американским инвесторам”
  5. Port of Baku – Bakı Liman, 09/07/2025: Facebook Post
  6. APA.az, 09/08/2025: “Azerbaijan Railways chairman meets US Business Delegation”
  7. AzerNews, 09/08/2025: “Middle Corridor progress underlined in ADY’s meeting with US delegation”
  8. Kazakh Invest, 09/08/2025: “U.S. Trade Mission Visits Aktau to Explore the Potential of the Trans-Caspian Route”
  9. DHA Press,09/08/2025 : “American business delegation visits Port of Baku”
  10. Media.az, 09/08/2025: “Председатель АЖД: Зангезурский коридор обеспечит непрерывность грузопотоков по Среднему коридору”
  11. BakuInform, 09/08/2025: “Американская бизнес-делегация посетила Бакинский порт”
  12. Xalq Qazeti, 09/08/2025: “Ceyhun Bayramov ABŞ nümayəndələri ilə Vaşinqton razılaşmasının perspektivlərini müzakirə edib”
  13. Rəşad Nəbiyev, 09/08/2025: Facebook Post
  14. Azərbaycan Dəmir Yolları – ADY, 09/08/2025: Facebook Post
  15. Azərbaycan Xarici İşlər Nazirliyi/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, 09/08/2025: Facebook Post
  16. AFEZ – Alat Free Economic Zone, 09/08/2025: Facebook Post
  17. Caliber.az, 09/09/2025: “Azerbaijan highlights its role in diversifying Eurasian trade to US delegation”
  18. Report.az, 09/09/2025: “US trade mission visits South Caucasus to assess Middle Corridor potential”
  19. APA.az, 09/09/2025: “US business delegation visits Baku Port”
  20. Report.az, 09/09/2025: “Kenneth Angell: Much broader opportunities will open up for Middle Corridor”
  21. AzerNews, 09/09/2025: “Significant opportunities exist to enhance digital, physical connectivity along Middle Corridor”
  22. Report.az, 09/09/2025: “US companies invited to take advantage of Azerbaijan’s favorable business, investment climate”
  23. The Azerbaijan State News Agency, 09/09/2025: “Mikayil Jabbarov meets US trade mission to discuss Middle Corridor opportunities”
  24. MENAFN, 09/09/2025: “Azerbaijan, US Explore Partnership Shots To Diversify Middle Corridor Routes”
  25. MENAFN, 09/09/2025: “US Aims To Boost Efficiency Of Middle Corridor – DFC Official”
  26. Turkic World, 09/09/2025: “US delegation explores Middle Corridor’s untapped economic potential”
  27. The Caspian Post, 09/09/2025: “Azerbaijan, US Discuss Middle Corridor Opportunities”
  28. Eurasian Star, 09/09/2025: “US trade mission explores potential of Trans-Caspian Route”
  29. Caliber.az, 09/09/2025: “Джаббаров обсудил развитие Среднего коридора с американской делегацией”
  30. Day.az, 09/09/2025: “​​Делегация США оценивает потенциал неиспользованных возможностей Среднего коридора”
  31. Report.az, 09/09/2025: “Кеннет Энджелл: Для Среднего коридора откроются значительно более широкие возможности”
  32. Azerbaycan24, 09/09/2025: “Кеннет Энджелл: Для Среднего коридора откроются значительно более широкие возможности”
  33. Far.az, 09/09/2025: “Американская делегация изучает новые возможности в рамках Среднего коридора”
  34. Caliber.az, 09/09/2025: “Эрлих: Зангезурский коридор укрепит экспортно-импортные возможности прикаспийских стран”
  35. KorrespondenT.az, 09/09/2025: “Азербайджан и США обсудили развитие Среднего коридора и энергобезопасность Европы”
  36. NDELIA, 09/09/2025: “Натиг Бахышов: Интерес компаний из США к Южному Кавказу растет”
  37. News.am, 09/09/2025: “Кеннет Энджелл: Компании США будут рады возможности участвовать в проектах в рамках Зангезурского коридора”
  38. Azegomruk, 09/09/2025: “Sentyabrın 9-da Dövlət Gömrük Komitəsində ölkəmizdə səfərdə olan Amerika Birləşmiş Ştatlarının Orta Dəhliz üzrə Sertifikatlaşdırılmış Ticarət Missiyasının nümayəndələri ilə görüş keçirilib.”
  39. AZPromo.az, 09/09/2025: “İqtisadiyyat naziri Mikayıl Cabbarov ABŞ-nin Orta Dəhliz üzrə Sertifikatlaşdırılmış Ticarət Missiyasının nümayəndələri ilə görüşüb.”
  40. Mikayil Jabbarov, 09/09/2025: Facebook Post
  41. Caliber.az, 09/10/2025: “​​Azerbaijan and China boost transport connectivity”
  42. AZE.media, 09/10/2025: “Visit of the American mission to Baku and upcoming talks in Yerevan — A unified strategy”
  43. Caspian News, 09/10/2025: “Azerbaijan Ministers, US Trade Mission Discuss Middle Corridor, Energy Routes”
  44. Ministry of Economy of the Repubic of Azerbaijan, 09/10/2025: “Meeting held with representatives of US companies”
  45. Ports Europe, 09/10/2025: “Azerbaijan Railways meets US business delegation”
  46. Minval Politika, 09/10/2025: “Американская миссия высадилась в Баку”
  47. Caucasus Watch, 09/11/2025: “Azerbaijan Advances Middle Corridor and TRIPP Projects with Partners”
  48. U.S. Embassy Tbilisi, 09/12/2025: “Strengthening U.S.-Georgia Ties through the Middle Corridor”
  49. Commersant.ge, 09/12/2025: “U.S. delegation explored opportunities to strengthen U.S.-Georgia cooperation in critical infrastructure, digital trade, new technologies, transportation, and logistics”
  50. 1TV.ge, 09/12/2025: “U.S. Embassy highlights strengthened ties as American businesses visit Georgia”
  51. SPNEWS, 09/12/2025: “U.S. Business Delegation Visit Reinforces Economic Partnership with Georgia and the Middle Corridor”
  52. BM.ge, 09/12/2025: “აშშ-ის ელჩის მოვალეობის შემსრულებელი ამერიკელი ბიზნეს ხელმძღვანელების დელეგაციას და ქართული ბიზნესის და მთავრობის წარმომადგენლებს შეხვდა”
  53. BM.ge, 09/12/2025: “რაზე გაამახვილა ყურადღება მარიამ ქვრივიშვილმა აშშ-ის ბიზნესმისიის წარმომადგენლებთან შეხვედრაზე?”
  54. 1TV.ge, 09/12/2025: “აშშ-ის საელჩო – ამერიკული ბიზნესების ვიზიტი აძლიერებს აშშ-საქართველოს თანამშრომლობას, ხაზს უსვამს აშშ-ის ერთგულებას ეკონომიკური პარტნიორობის გაღრმავებისა და რეგიონული კავშირების გაძლიერების მიმართ”
  55. BP.ge, 09/12/2025: “‘ამერიკული ბიზნესების ვიზიტი ხაზს უსვამს აშშ-ის ერთგულებას ეკონომიკური პარტნიორობის გაღრმავების მიმართ’ – აშშ-ის საელჩო”
  56. Sputnik, 09/12/2025: “აშშ-ის საელჩო: ამერიკული ბიზნესების ვიზიტი აძლიერებს აშშ-საქართველოს თანამშრომლობას”
  57. Business Continent, 09/12/2025: “აშშ-ის საელჩო: ამერიკული ბიზნესების ვიზიტი აძლიერებს აშშ-საქართველოს თანამშრომლობას”
  58. 1TV.ge, 09/12/2025: “Посольство США — Визит американских компаний укрепляет сотрудничество между США и Грузией и подчеркивает приверженность США углублению экономического партнерства и укреплению региональных связей”
  59. US Embassy Tbilisi, Georgia, 09/12/2025: Facebook Post
  60. AzerNews, 09/13/2025: “US delegation strengthens business ties along Middle Corridor”
  61. Trend.az, 09/13/2025: “U.S. expanding co-op with Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan along Middle Corridor”
  62. 24.kz, 09/13/2025: “США делают ставку на «Средний коридор»”
  63. MENAFN, 09/13/2025: “U.S. Expanding Co-Op With Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Along Middle Corridor”
  64. International Trade Administration, 09/17/2025: “Mapping the TRIPP Ahead: Prosperity in the South Caucasus and Opportunities for U.S. Companies”
  65. Trend.az, 09/19/2025: “U.S. business delegation highlights outcomes of Middle Corridor visit”
  66. Trend.az, 09/19/2025: “Американская бизнес-делегация подвела итоги визита в регион Среднего коридора”
  67. Day.az, 09/19/2025: “Американские бизнес-круги оценили потенциал Среднего коридора”
  68. Transport Corridors, 09/19/2025: “«Азербайджанские железные дороги» усиливают позиции на Среднем коридоре.”

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