GlobalNeighboursBreakfastClubontheRailwayMiddleCorridorwithMs.EniköGyörfi

Railways are often discussed in terms of infrastructure, logistics, and trade. Yet at their best, they are something more profound: instruments of connection that bring regions, economies, and people closer together.

On June 9, Global Neighbours was honoured to convene ambassadors, diplomats, business leaders, academics, and representatives of international organizations in Vienna for a Breakfast Club discussion on the opportunities and challenges of the Railway Middle Corridor connecting Europe and Asia.

CEO Siddharth Chatterjee holding his opening remarks

Opening the discussion, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, CEO of Global Neighbours, reflected on the growing importance of connectivity in an increasingly interconnected and multipolar world. Drawing on international experiences across continents, he emphasized that sustainable development, economic resilience, and regional stability are built not through isolation, but through cooperation. European innovation, Asian implementation capacity, and strong regional partnerships across Central Asia and beyond all have an important role to play in shaping the future of Eurasian connectivity.

Global Neighbours was privileged to welcome Enikö Györfi, Head of Eurasia – China Relations & Cargo Affairs at ÖBB Holding AG, as keynote speaker, and Dr. Harvey Dzodin, Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, as moderator. Their contributions helped frame a thoughtful and forward-looking discussion on both the opportunities and practical challenges associated with strengthening connectivity across Europe, the South Caucasus, Türkiye, Central Asia, and China.

A particularly valuable contribution came from H.E. Bakhtiyor Ibragimov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Austria, who highlighted the importance of viewing the Middle Corridor within a broader Eurasian connectivity framework. His remarks underscored how complementary routes, partnerships, and regional cooperation can reinforce one another and contribute to greater economic integration across the wider region.

What emerged from the discussion was a shared conviction that the future of Eurasian connectivity will depend not only on investment in infrastructure, but equally on trust, dialogue, and effective multilateral cooperation. As global trade patterns evolve and new economic corridors emerge, fostering constructive engagement between Europe, Asia, and their neighbouring regions will remain essential.

Through initiatives such as the Breakfast Club, Global Neighbours continues to provide a platform for evidence-based dialogue and exchange, bringing together diverse perspectives to explore solutions to the shared challenges and opportunities of an increasingly connected world.