Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 19
By Huseyn Valiyev - Trend:
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies considers expansion of international cooperation to develop the country’s transit potential as a priority, Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Ramin Guluzade said Feb. 19, Trend reports.
He made the remarks at the first meeting on Azerbaijan-EU high-level transport dialogue in Baku.
He said that in this regard, Azerbaijan-EU cooperation is of particular importance.
“As part of technical support tools, the EU has implemented numerous joint projects so far,” he noted. “The expert mission to study legislation in the field of transport that was completed in 2017 can be mentioned as an example. In the field of automobile transport, third-generation smart tachographs are expected to be introduced."
"I think that the expansion of the Trans-Eurasian transport network, including the extension of cooperation in this area with the Eastern Partnership countries until 2030 and the adoption of a long-term investment plan play an important role. I believe that the implementation of the work regarding this plan, along with the increase in economic opportunities, generally contributes to the development of the region.”
Azerbaijan is an initiator and participant of a number of global regional projects, Guluzade said. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line launched Oct. 30, 2017 plays a strategic role for the region and provides the shortest communication way between Europe and Asia, he noted.
“It will ensure safe transportation of goods from China to Europe, including the countries of the Far East,” he said. “The first stage of construction of the Baku International Sea Trade Port, which is the biggest port complex in the Caspian basin playing an important role in connecting the transport corridors of the North with the South and the West with the East, was completed May 14, 2018. At the same time, large-scale work is underway to build automobile road infrastructure.”
Wide introduction of multimodal transportations is underway in the Caspian region, as well as the volumes of maritime transport are accelerating and increasing, new tankers and vessels have also been commissioned, the minister said.
“The main goal is to create more acceptable conditions for the transit of goods through Azerbaijan,” he noted. “The work is underway on purchasing new locomotives and updating the railway infrastructure, and this will ensure faster and safer transportation of goods.”
Along with sea and land transport, the development of civil aviation is also a priority, he said.
“To this end, a lot of work has been recently done and large-scale projects have been implemented,” he added. “The fleet of the Azerbaijan Airlines has been updated, and regular flights are carried out to the CIS countries, Europe, America and Asia. The corresponding work is underway to increase flight directions and the development of transit potential. Six airports operate in Azerbaijan, and the Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport was awarded five-star status by the company Skytrax last year.”
