Freight operators say outdated documentation processes, limited infrastructure capacity, and a lack of harmonized customs systems across countries are holding back the Middle Corridor’s transit potential. According to F.S. Mackenzie Georgia director Mikheil Babunashvili, the region still relies on slow, fragmented communication methods that do not match modern logistics demands.
He argues that while global trade has largely shifted to digital systems, parts of regional rail and cargo operations still depend on legacy procedures, where document changes and approvals can take longer than the transport itself. He also points to bottlenecks in ports, particularly Poti, which is operating near capacity, as well as shortages in rolling stock and warehouse infrastructure.
Another major obstacle, he says, is regulatory fragmentation: cargo entering different countries along the corridor is subject to shifting legal and procedural frameworks, which slows down transit and complicates operations. Babunashvili believes that without greater harmonization and digitalization, efficiency gains will remain limited.
Despite these challenges, he remains cautiously optimistic, arguing that Georgia can still carve out a competitive niche in the corridor by focusing on speed and geographic advantage, as the Middle Corridor remains the shortest link between Asia and Europe.
