Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 13
By Azad Hasanli - Trend:
Through freight rates have to be introduced for successful operation of the TRACECA (Europe-Caucasus-Asia) transport corridor, TRACECA National Secretary in Azerbaijan Akif Mustafayev told Trend.
"The construction of appropriate transport infrastructure will give positive result only if acceptable rates are worked out," he said. "No matter how powerful and modern infrastructure is, nobody will send their goods via this corridor, if the rates are higher than those of competitors. Of course, there are regular customers, who in any case will work on TRACECA, but it's necessary to work on a single tariff in order to build cargo traffic."
He said that in recent years there have been many proposals in connection with the application through fares.
"The fares should be transparent both for shippers and consignees from the beginning till the end of the route," said Mustafayev. "Unfortunately, the problem is not yet solved in this respect. I believe that in order to solve the problem it's necessary to organize a meeting of transport ministers and the heads of customs committees of at least four countries - Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan."
The national secretary pointed out the importance of introduction of attractive tariffs, as well as taking into account the availability of alternative corridors through Russia, Iran and other countries.
"It's true that TRACECA is the shortest transport corridor on this route," said Mustafayev. "It is almost 2.5 times shorter than, for example, the Trans-Siberian Railway from Asia to Europe. On average, TRACECA is 650 kilometers shorter than the other corridors. Currently, work on application of through rates is underway, but it is being held at the expert level, and it's necessary to attract ministers and heads of customs committees."
TRACECA is an international cooperation program in the field of transport between the EU and partner countries in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. The organization has a permanent secretariat in Baku.
TRACECA member states are Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Iran.
Edited by CN