OVERVIEW OF THE EURASIAN TRANSPORT CORRIDORS, INITIATIVES OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND ECONOMIC ASSOCIATIONS

Badri Gechbaia

Associated Professor of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University,

Batumi, Georgia

E-mail: gechbaia.badri@bsu.edu.ge

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2815-2228

Amiran Tsilosani

Doctoral Student of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University

Batumi, Georgia

E-mail: atsilosani@gmail.com

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2809-5964

JEL Classification: F15, H54, R40

DOI: 10.46361/2449-2604.7.2.2020.95-103

Abstract

Historically Georgia is associated with the “Silk Road” transport corridor, which connected the Asian and European countries by its geographical location.

“Silk Road” transport corridor did not lost its actuality even during the last decades. This is proved by development of small and large-scale transport corridors in the Eurasian region being implemented and planned by different countries at different times, signing new cooperation agreements and forming associations that are part of the historic “Silk Road” route.

In the present paper is discussed the represented transport corridors in the Caucasus and Eurasia regions, which are one of the important levers in the Eurasian region to increase the economic interests and the spheres of their influence of the major players in the region, such as the European Union, China, Russia and Iran.

The goal of the present work is to determine the importance and opportunities of Georgia as the transport corridor country in the context,  that in parallel, alternative transport corridors are being formed in the region, as well as observation is made how developments are related to these processes in the Eurasian region. The aim of the study is to describe the geopolitical and economic situation in the Eurasian region and to line out the strengths and weaknesses of Georgia - as a transport corridor country connecting the EU and Asian countries.

Originality and value of the given research  lies in studying the state of Georgia as a country of a transport corridor in relation to the development of other alternative transport corridors in the region, as well as identifying existing and potential weak positions and determining ways to overcome the weaknesses.

To achieve the objectives of the study were used complex methods of obtaining information. By bibliographic research was implemented extraction, sorting and analyzing the secondary data. The theoretical basis of the research is the existed literature on the subject: scientific papers, studies, publications, articles from periodicals, data retrieved from the Internet.

This thesis discusses the existing geopolitical situation in the Eurasian region and the impact of sanctions imposed on some countries in the region on the functioning of the middle corridor, which has a positive impact on the functioning of the corridor. The current logistical challenges faced by the countries involved in the corridor are also discussed.

Key words: Eurasia; Logistics; Transportation; Transport corridors;