Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 7
By Azad Hasanli – Trend:
Azerbaijan can annually earn nearly $2.5 billion on cargo transportation, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov told reporters in Baku Sept. 7.
“If we can make 50 million tons of cargo annually pass through the territory of Azerbaijan we will annually receive $2.5 billion of revenues by earning nearly $50 per ton,” Gurbanov said.
Years are needed for that, since it’s necessary to attract the world’s attention to Azerbaijan, the head of the company added.
Speaking about the increase in volume of cargo transportation from the neighboring countries, Gurbanov noted in particular that the relevant talks are already underway with Turkmenistan.
“The main route [of supplies] to Europe for Turkmenistan lies through Azerbaijan and Georgia,” Gurbanov said. “Now nearly two million tons of Turkmen oil passes through Azerbaijan, but we have the possibility to increase the transit of Turkmen goods through our territory.”
“To do this, we are in talks with Turkmenistan,” he noted. “It is unprofitable for Turkmenistan to supply its products to foreign markets through Iran due to the complex topography of the country, so Turkmenistan is interested to supply oil and oil products through the territory of Azerbaijan. In turn, we can enter the market of Afghanistan through Turkmenistan.”
Gurbanov stressed that Azerbaijan is a very safe country.
“There is no terrorism in our country, the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan and other state agencies work well,” he said. “We have stability, and that means one can transport cargo through Azerbaijan safely.”
Moreover, Gurbanov noted that the modernization of road infrastructure should continue, the trains upgraded to increase their carrying capacity, or replaced by diesel and electric locomotives for the development of the cargo transportation sphere in Azerbaijan.
“It is also necessary to revise the Tax Code of Azerbaijan,” he said. “We need to broaden the tax base and at the same time put the customs sphere in order and maybe carry out a customs reform.”