Agriculture, space, trade co-op to dominate OTS summit in Ankara

The Organization of Turkic States, or OTS, is a bloc that organizes cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries. Its work covers politics, trade, investment, transportation, energy, digital transformation, culture, humanitarian issues and institution-building. The group also has a long-term Turkic World 2040 Vision.

Its four full members are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Türkiye is also central to the organization and will take over its rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan at the Ankara summit. Turkmenistan, Hungary and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus hold observer status.

The OTS is seeking more practical cooperation, not only shared identity. Leaders are expected to adopt the Ankara Declaration and documents that strengthen the organization. Current projects include the Middle Corridor, digital trade, smart farming data and a joint CubeSat initiative. These efforts could make members more connected and help expand trade and investment.

The summit’s agenda spans the main areas of cooperation within the OTS. Leaders are expected to discuss political cooperation, trade and investment, transportation and connectivity, energy, digital transformation, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, and institutional development. Agriculture and space are also highlighted through current joint projects.

Transport and business issues will receive particular attention. Turkish business groups are expected to discuss the Middle Corridor, border crossings, customs procedures and logistics costs. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is another major project linking Türkiye and Azerbaijan. Members are also developing digital trade and agricultural data cooperation.

The summit will review current progress, future prospects, and regional and international developments of shared interest. Leaders are expected to stress concrete steps toward the Turkic World 2040 Vision. They may also adopt the Ankara Declaration and documents designed to deepen cooperation and strengthen OTS institutions.

The Middle Corridor is a trade route connecting Asia with Europe through Central Asia and the South Caucasus. It gives countries along the route a shared framework for improving transportation, trade and economic links. The OTS report describes it as an important opportunity for integrating the Turkic world.

The route depends on connected transport systems and efficient crossings between countries. One related project is the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, described as a major transportation link between Türkiye and Azerbaijan. At the summit’s business events, participants are expected to discuss border crossings, customs procedures and logistics costs.

Its future value depends on making movement more reliable and affordable. Better coordination could support larger trade flows between Asia and Europe and strengthen economic ties among OTS members. The summit is expected to consider practical steps that support this route and the wider Turkic World 2040 Vision.

Türkiye’s trade with the OTS’s four full members has expanded significantly. Total trade reached nearly $17 billion last year. Türkiye remained a net exporter, with shipments to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan reaching $9.6 billion, up from $6.2 billion in 2021.

Imports also grew during that period. They rose from $4.2 billion in 2021 to $7.3 billion last year. Kazakhstan was Türkiye’s largest export market at $3.2 billion, followed by Azerbaijan at $3 billion, Uzbekistan at $2.1 billion and Kyrgyzstan at $1.3 billion.

The upward trend continued during the first eight months of this year. Türkiye exported $6.1 billion and imported $5.4 billion, bringing trade to nearly $11.5 billion. Kazakhstan again led, with $2 billion in Turkish exports, followed by Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Simpler customs procedures, better border crossings and lower logistics costs could remove delays and expenses from cross-border trade. Businesses would have fewer administrative obstacles when moving goods between OTS countries. This would support the organization’s priorities of trade, investment, transportation and connectivity.

The Middle Corridor shows how these improvements could work together. It links Asia and Europe through Central Asia and the South Caucasus, while the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway provides a major connection between Türkiye and Azerbaijan. Easier customs and more efficient borders would help goods move more smoothly across this network.

The likely result would be stronger commercial links and potentially higher trade volumes, building on Türkiye’s nearly $17 billion in trade with the four full members last year. The summit’s discussions on logistics costs and border procedures could turn broad cooperation goals into practical changes, although the article does not quantify any future increase.

Projects such as railways, digital agreements and CubeSats make cooperation tangible. They connect countries physically, electronically and scientifically. This matters because the OTS wants deeper trade, investment, transportation, digital and institutional cooperation, supported by its Turkic World 2040 Vision.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is a major transport project between Türkiye and Azerbaijan. The digital economy partnership aims to remove barriers to e-commerce, digital services and cross-border data activity. Members are also building a Digital Agriculture Data Platform for data exchange and smart farming. A framework agreement continues their joint CubeSat project.

Together, these efforts can create shared systems and common experience. Türkiye ratified the digital agreement in June, becoming the third country after Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Members recently signed the CubeSat framework at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya. Such steps give the organization practical projects to expand and strengthen.

Transportation networks move goods between producers, markets and ports. When routes connect effectively, shipments need fewer delays or transfers. The Middle Corridor and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway illustrate the OTS focus on improving connectivity between Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye.

Customs rules affect how quickly goods cross borders. Simpler procedures reduce paperwork, repeated checks and waiting time. Lower logistics costs then make goods more competitive. Shared digital data can help businesses and authorities exchange information for e-commerce, cross-border services and smart farming. The OTS digital economy agreement specifically aims to remove barriers in these areas.

Together, these systems make trade more predictable and less expensive. The article links this work to discussions on border crossings, customs procedures and logistics costs. If members implement these measures, they could reinforce the trade growth already recorded between Türkiye and the four full members, though the article gives no forecast.