Rovshan Rustamov

Met with Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Nokargulu Ataguliyev, at the Baku International Sea Port. We discussed seabed dredging to ensure closer and more efficient cooperation between our countries’ railways and seaports. We also had an in-depth exchange on joint efforts to increase East–West–East cargo flows.

The newly launched innovative Cargo Tracking platform (cargo-tracking.ady.az) of ADY now enables the real-time monitoring of container shipments along the East–West route. Cargo owners, shippers, carriers, and other stakeholders will be able to save time and resources through the platform’s comprehensive digital monitoring of transit, export, and import cargoes. Initially covering the territories of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, the system will later be integrated with other participating countries of the Middle Corridor. More: sml.az/cargo-tracking…

During our visit to Turkmenistan, we toured the Turkmenbashi International Sea Port, discussed the synchronization of the development of the Baku International Sea Port and the Turkmenbashi Port and the implementation of dredging works at sea. We further emphasized that the expansion of the Caspian Sea-Black Sea connectivity will contribute to increasing the supply volumes on the Middle Corridor.

Today in Ashgabat, we met with our colleagues from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia to look into opportunities for expanding cooperation along the Middle Corridor. We shared views on boosting this route’s competitiveness, digitalizing operations, and increasing cargo volumes, and ultimately signed a protocol on the outcomes of discussions.

Following meetings with colleagues from Uzbekistan and Georgia in Tashkent, Georgia joined the “Eurasian Transport Route” International Association established at Azerbaijan’s initiative. This important decision will further enhance the attractiveness of freight transportation along the Eurasian Transport Route, the southern branch of the Middle Corridor, and contribute to regional cooperation.

Today in Tashkent, we met with colleagues from Uzbekistan and Georgia to discuss prospects for more efficient freight transportation from Central Asia to Europe via the Middle Corridor, highlighting the importance of expanding digital solutions to increase cargo volumes and attract new freight.

Today, during a meeting with my Georgian counterpart Lasha Abashidze, we discussed increasing freight volumes between the two countries, optimizing tariffs and delivery times, as well as the ongoing works to develop the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway line.

As part of our visit to Georgia, we held meetings with the management of PACE Group, one of the leading logistics companies in the country, and Batumi Sea Port, emphasizing the importance of expanding cooperation between the logistics companies and seaports of the two countries in order to ensure more efficient handling of the growing freight traffic along the Middle Corridor. At the same time, we gained firsthand insight into the operations of ports of Poti and Batumi.

Today, at Georgia’s Port of Poti, we dispatched the Poti–Baku express block train. The block train will connect Black Sea ports with Azerbaijan’s ports and terminals, enabling cargo owners to receive containers from Poti to Baku and back according to a fixed schedule, without any delays.

Today in Tbilisi, agreements were signed to ensure the full launch of operations of the BTKI Railways joint venture, established by subsidiaries of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) and Marabda-Kartsakhi Railway LLC, along the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway line. The new agreements, which envisage the use of the Marabda–Akhalkalaki railway infrastructure and the provision of terminal services at the Akhalkalaki station, will enable more efficient organization of operations on the BTK railway—an important segment of the Middle Corridor—and will contribute to an increase in freight transportation volumes.

Today in Tbilisi, during a meeting with Lasha Abashidze, Director General of Georgian Railways JSC, and Tamara Ioseliani, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, we discussed the signing of the final handover acceptance act for the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway line project and increasing freight transportation volumes along this route, and emphasized the importance of continuing cooperation to attract additional cargo along the Middle Corridor.

Today, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Turkish State Railways. Our goal is to cooperate in infrastructure development, traffic management, the implementation of joint innovative solutions, staff training, and information exchange.

At a meeting held today with Charles Cormier, Infrastructure Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank, the parties discussed the current status of cooperation between ADY and the World Bank, as well as the significance of further expansion of bilateral relations. Discussions also covered the World Bank’s involvement in the second phase of the Baku International Sea Port, along with opportunities for technical assistance and investment.

Cənab Prezident İlham Əliyevi doğum günü münasibətilə təbrik edir, sabit və firavan Azərbaycan naminə yorulmaz fəaliyyətində cansağlığı və uğurlar arzulayırıq.

We signed a Memorandum with our counterparts from Iran and Russia to enhance cooperation along the western route of the North–South Corridor. We seek to speed up the growth of this vital regional corridor through aligned tariff policies and the launch of regular block train services.

During the 83rd meeting of the CIS Council for Railway Transport in Baku, we reviewed the agenda, assessed the outcomes of this year’s cooperation, and discussed plans for the coming year, including steps toward aligning tariff policies. It was emphasized that ongoing projects in recent years, including the BTK railway upgrade, the Port of Baku’s integration into ADY, and other major infrastructure developments, have strengthened Azerbaijan’s strategic position in regional transport links.

Today in Baku, at a meeting with the leadership of Russian Railways, we discussed a number of points related to the development of cooperation, including improving the efficiency and safety of freight operations along regional routes. At the same time, we signed an agreement on the bilateral electronic exchange of data.