The Georgian Prime Minister, Zurab Nogaideli held talks in Baku on November 30 over the implementation of the project on railway communication, Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku, Trend reports. The resolution on the establishment of working group on the project was made by the Transport Ministers.
He said that in 2007 Georgia will set up direct construction and rehabilitation under this project.
At present the projection is underway. In the first quarter of 2007 the issue of financing will be fully resolved, he said.
With respect to Azerbaijan credit allotted for the project he said that it will be resolved in the 1st quarter of 2007.
It is planned to spend the funds on the work in 2 railway sections in the territory of Georgia. The rehabilitation of the first one will be carried out in the second quarter of 2007, while the second section will be constructed afterwards, he said.
The transport corridor will mainly carry cargo from Kazakhstan, China and Russia. During the Ministerial meeting in Kazakhstan in August 2006, Kazakhstan side undertook the commitment on delivery of no less than 10mln tons of cargo via this route.
Project on railway transportation via Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku includes the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki branch with the length of 98km, including 68km long Turkish section and 30km long Georgian section. The definite reconstruction is required for the Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi section. The average budget of the project is $400mln.