THE MIDDLE CORRIDOR IN THE EURASIAN LOGISTICS SYSTEM: INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATIONS AND KAZAKHSTAN'S ROLE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE “BELT AND ROAD” INITIATIVE

Abstract

The article examines how the Middle Corridor is evolving within the broader system of Eurasian logistics under the Belt and Road Initiative. It explores why the route is gradually shifting from a regional transit corridor to a more stable component of global supply chains, while also assessing the role of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the formation of a new logistics architecture of Eurasia. The analysis combines a neo-institutional perspective with geo-economic analysis and elements of scenario modeling. The empirical basis of the study includes data on cargo flow dynamics, the level of infrastructure development, and coordination mechanisms among the participants of the route. Particular attention is paid to containerization, digitalization, and the unification of transport procedures as key factors ensuring the sustainability of the corridor. The findings suggest that institutional coordination plays a decisive role in improving the reliability and predictability of the corridor. The further development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is associated with its transformation into an economic corridor capable of supporting not only transit flows, but also broader value creation.