Regional economic corridors can boost trade, investment and industrial growth while helping countries reduce dependence on vulnerable global transit routes. But weak transport, energy and digital infrastructure, along with fragmented customs systems, continue to raise costs and disrupt supply chains.
Regional economic corridors can strengthen economic security by enabling faster, more reliable and diversified trade routes. By linking production centres to global markets, they support competitiveness, job creation and economic diversification.
Well-functioning corridors also strengthen resilience by reducing dependency on single routes and mitigating supply chain disruptions, while fostering stability and co-operation across countries.
Maximising corridor performance requires both “hard” infrastructure (transport, energy, digital) and “soft” connectivity (policies, regulations, customs procedures). Persistent bottlenecks such as fragmented digital systems, inefficient border processes and high transport costs limit seamless freight operations along reliable and safe transport corridors.
Improving multimodality by investing in rail and maritime links and harmonising customs and regulatory frameworks is critical to unlock full corridor potential and enhance productivity and competitiveness at times of rapid technological change.
The OECD Connectivity Scoreboard provides a comprehensive framework to assess corridor performance across more than 40 indicators covering infrastructure, policy frameworks and outcomes. Combined with private-sector insights and international data, it helps policymakers identify strengths and gaps, benchmark progress and design targeted reforms.
Well-designed corridors extend beyond transport and serve as integrated development platforms that enable the mobilisation of financing, including private investment, while supporting coherent policies that maximise shared economic benefits.
Regional economic corridors can also contribute to improved energy efficiency and the delivery of infrastructure that is both resource-efficient and aligned with sustainability goals.
The OECD is supporting Members and partner countries in unlocking the full potential of regional economic corridors through evidence-based analysis, international policy dialogue and practical tools such as the OECD Connectivity Scoreboard piloted in 2025. By combining robust data with private-sector insights, the OECD is helping governments design and implement policy reforms that encourage investments, promote sustainability and deliver shared economic growth for Members and partner countries along high-impact corridors, including the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC), the Lobito Corridor, the Middle Corridor, but also the India-Middle-East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) and the Bioceanic Corridor.
For the five countries in Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, improved connectivity is expected to reduce freight transport costs along the TCTC by 30-40% and cut shipping times by up to 15 days, fostering new value chains in mining and agroindustry.
The Lobito Corridor is an infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity between Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia. Modelling shows that a fully operational Lobito Railway would cut travel time from 86 to 29 hours and reduce costs by 50%, leading to a 27-fold increase in exports from the DRC.
The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, runs through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye. It offers a competitive advantage for the transit of goods between China and the Western Balkans with a 6-day cut in transit time compared to the Northern Corridor.
The Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor is an infrastructure initiative connecting Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile. It has the potential to create new value chains in mining and agro industry and has the potential to reduce freight transport costs by 30%-40% and shipping times by up to 15 days. It is expected to be completed in 2027.
IMEC is an initiative launched during the G20 Indian Presidency in 2023, covering multi-modal transportation, energy and digital connectivity. Despite missing rail links, different ports capacity, and lack of cross-border co-operation, the corridor has the potential to become a valuable alternative trans-continental trading route and provide for clean energy and digital integration.
The TCTC has gained renewed prominence following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. By providing an alternative to the Northern Corridor through Russia, the TCTC is increasingly recognised by Central Asian countries as a strategic asset. Beyond its role as a transit route, it offers a platform for economic modernisation and deeper regional integration. The corridor can support trade diversification, attract foreign investment, and facilitate access to advanced technologies, while generating transit revenues and fostering local economic development through job creation and infrastructure upgrades.
Thanks to strong improvements in average trade facilitation, the region has earned recognition as a leading reformer, with Uzbekistan topping the list. The progress is closely linked to the digitalisation of transport documents and customs processes, increased regional cooperation and infrastructure upgrades including at border crossing points along the TCTC. In some of the indicators, such as the involvement of the trade community, the score is close to the OECD average, or exceeds it, for example in advance rulings. Nevertheless, the region still trails the OECD average and best performers in overall performance.
