Trade Corridors and infrastructure
TRANSPORT ROUTES: CONNECTING GLOBAL COMMERCE
30+
Mapped Trade Corridors
Connecting emerging and established routes across regions for resilient, diversified trade flow.
10M+ tons
Projected Freight Volume
Forecasted movement across North-South and East-West corridors by 2028, supporting regional demand.
70+
Infrastructure Gaps Identified
Terminals, rail links, and multimodal hubs prioritized to unlock corridor capacity and reduce trade bottlenecks.
$50B+
Billion Investment in Infrastructure
Terminals, rail links, and multimodal hubs prioritized to unlock corridor capacity and reduce trade bottlenecks.
Planned Corridors
TRADE ROUTES
Northern Sea Route
Shorter Europe-Asia route via Arctic to increase cost efficiency.
TRADE ROUTES
IMEC Corridor
Connecting South Asia to Europe and beyond via integrated rail and sea routes.
TRADE ROUTES
Lobito Corridor
Boosting trade and integration in Africa.
TRADE ROUTES
Bioceanic Corridor
Connecting South America’s interior to Pacific ports for regional integration.
TRADE ROUTES
Trans African Rail
Promoting trade by developing an interconnected network of rail and road infrastructure across Africa.
TRADE ROUTES
Ufa-Novorossisysk
A key Russian trade corridor connecting the industrial interior to the Port of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea.
TRADE ROUTES
Iraq Development Road
An infrastructure project connecting Asia with Europe through a network of railways and roads.
TRADE ROUTES
Isthmus Corridor
A trade and transit route in Southern Mexico connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans via rail.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Things you need to know about trade corridors and what we are developing
What is a trade corridor?
Trade corridors are critical networks that connect markets and facilitate regional integration.
Why are trade corridors important for member countries?
Globally, development agencies emphasize corridor-based strategies because they directly promote regional economic cooperation and growth, especially for landlocked or developing countries. Corridors help prioritize investment in infrastructure to plug missing links and address policy or regulatory bottlenecks in trade facilitation.
How are corridors selected or prioritized?
A well-defined overview of alternate corridors sets the stage by identifying new or less-utilized routes that could complement or compete with established ones.
What types of infrastructure are included in a trade corridor?
A trade corridor includes a mix of hard and soft infrastructure that facilitates the seamless movement of goods, services, and data across borders. Key components include ports, railways, highways, dry ports, and border checkpoints, which physically connect production and consumption hubs. Logistics hubs, special economic zones (SEZs), and customs facilities support trade flow and warehousing. Digital infrastructure such as single-window systems, data exchange platforms, and trade finance technologies enhance operational efficiency. Supporting infrastructure like energy supply, telecommunications, and security systems ensures resilience. Together, these enable efficient, secure, and scalable cross-border trade within regional and global supply chains.
What challenges do trade corridors help address?
Trade corridors offer resilience in global supply chains, fosters competition (driving down transport costs), and can spur economic development along new routes.
Are new trade corridors being developed?
Yes, new trade corridors are actively being discussed and developed as countries seek to enhance connectivity, economic resilience, and diversify supply chains. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the G20 Summit in 2023, is one such initiative under consideration, aiming to link South Asia with the Middle East and Europe through integrated rail and maritime infrastructure. Other corridors such as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Middle Corridor, and INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) are also being advanced. These initiatives reflect a shared recognition among nations of the importance of improving trade infrastructure for long-term growth and cooperation.