Azerbaijan, Baku, July 3 / Trend E. Ismayilov /
The Transport Ministries of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Kazakhstan signed a protocol on joint cooperation in the field of transport development in Turkic-speaking states on Wednesday in Baku.
The protocol was signed by Azerbaijan's Minister of Transport Ziya Mammadov, Turkey's Minister of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Binali Yildirim and Kazakhstan's Minister of Transport and Communications Askar Zhumagaliev.
Baku is hosting the first meeting of Transport Ministers of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States.
A memorandum of understanding for the development of friendly relations between the ports of Baku, Aktau and Samsun was also signed in the framework of the event.
As Turkey's Transport Minister said during the signing, the memorandum signed between the ports will contribute to the process of their co-ordination and further convergence.
According to Azerbaijan's Minister of Transport, the ports are important in terms of the growth of water transport therefore their development and cooperation is of high significance.
In particular, as Mammadov noted, it is planned to put into operation the first phase of a new international seaport at Alat in June 2014.
"Operation of a new port will positively affect the development of the volume of cargo and speed up the checking process. It will also provide a wider coverage for the international port," the minister said.