Transport corridor via Azerbaijan should be priority in cargo transportation
The Trans-Caspian transport corridor, passing through
Azerbaijan, must become a priority in cargo transportation to the
Central Asian countries, rather than an alternative in case of
problems, Binali Yildirim, Turkish minister of transport, shipping
and communications, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
The minister said that Turkey intends to increase the number of
freight wagons transported via the Caspian Sea from 4,000 to 20,000
a year.
"If this route proves to be effective, the number of freight wagons
transported via the Caspian Sea is expected to be increased up to
10,000 in 2016, up to 15,000 in 2017, and up to 20,000 in
2018."
The minister went on to say that for this purpose, along with a
regular ferry service between Baku and Aktau, it is necessary to
arrange a ferry service between the ports of Baku and
Turkmenbashi.
He said that the cargo from Turkey will be transported to the
Central Asian countries through the Baku-Aktau ferry service,
carried out on Tuesdays and Fridays.
"Moreover, the ferry trips from Aktau to Baku will be made on
Wednesdays and Saturdays," Yıldırım said.
The minister said that an increase in the cargo transportation
volumes from Turkey through the territory of Azerbaijan will
increase the attractiveness of this route.
"Our ultimate goal is to transport the goods via the Caspian Sea
without going through the documents," he said. “The problems
recently faced by Turkey in cargo transportation to the Central
Asian countries through Russia and Iran, make transportation via
the Caspian Sea relevant."
"As it is known, after the Ankara-Moscow relations deteriorated, an
agreement was reached as part of the meetings between Turkish and
Azerbaijani foreign ministers,” the minister said. “According to
the agreement, the Turkish trucks, detained on the Georgian-Russian
border, should use the territory of Azerbaijan and not to pay the
penalties in case of changing the route."
He said that following the talks held with the Azerbaijani side, an
agreement was reached to reduce the transit fee.
The minister added that moreover, an agreement on the efficient use
of the territory of Azerbaijan as a transit country was reached for
the transportation of goods to the Central Asian countries.
"The fee for transit through Azerbaijan was reduced from $520 to
$220," Yıldırım said.
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