BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. This week it has been revealed that the demand for cargo traffic through Azerbaijan along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) has significantly increased amidst the recent world events, Trend reports.
It was reported that freight movement from China, Central Asia, and the Black Sea to the EU countries and back was redirected to transit through Azerbaijan.
Moreover, it has been known that Azerbaijan would be able to redirect a large cargo flow to its territory. The Azerbaijan Railways and Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO), as well as other cargo carriers, have established a joint monitoring center to develop the existing transit potential and further ensure the transshipment of additional cargo.
In addition, it became known that the wheeled vehicle movement (TIR) between Central Asian countries and Türkiye reaches about 120,000 TIRs at an annual rate. Only 20 percent of the vehicles are currently passing through Azerbaijan, and the Port aims to increase this figure up to 50 percent (or nearly 60,000 trucks). It's scheduled to establish a TIR park in the area of the Baku International Sea Port in the near future to ensure the uninterrupted handling of the trucks.
It has been noted that the first two new Boeing aircraft for the Azerbaijani Silk Way West Airlines will be delivered in the summer of 2023. The first Airbus A350 will be delivered to Azerbaijan in 2027, while the second one – in 2028. In addition, it has been revealed that negotiations on the delivery of other new aircraft are currently underway.
Meanwhile this week, it has been reported that Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission (PS IGC) TRACECA Asset Assavbayev and member states of the Basic Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for Development of the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia Corridor (MLA) TRACECA discussed the harmonization and simplification of customs transit procedures, as well as mechanisms for the systematic exchange of information between customs authorities.
Furthermore, the sides addressed the simplification of traffic and reduction of border crossing time. It was also proposed to develop an overview of custom transit systems along TRACECA routes, as well as organize a meeting between member countries to gain access to a common transit convention and study simplified customs transit procedures.