Hungary joins Trans-Caspian Transport Route
By Nigar Abbasova
The Trans-Caspian Transport Route, a promising infrastructure project enjoying an opportunity to become attractive and profitable for consignors from European and Asian countries, continues to involve new participants.
Hungary and Kazakhstan agreed to jointly develop multi-modal services for cargo transportation from China to Europe and from Europe to China through the route.
A corresponding agreement was signed between Kazakh KTZ Express Company and Hungarian Rail Cargo Hungaria Zrt Company, within the framework of the Kazakh-Hungarian business forum held in Astana. The parties also agreed to create favorable conditions for freight traffic by this route.
Kazakh border stations in Dostyk and Altynkol, infrastructure of transport and logistics centers in Astana and Shymkent, multimodal complexes of Aktau and Kuryk ports, as well as Hungarian border stations Záhony, Epereshke and Rail Cargo Terminal’s intermodal terminal BILK will be used for cargo transportation.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route runs through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and then through Turkey and Ukraine to Europe. The first test container train from China arrived at the Baku International Sea Trade Port on August 3, 2015.
The route was launched with the establishment of its Coordinating Committee in October 2013. Azerbaijani companies ADY Express and ACSC Logistics, Kazakhstan's KTZ Express and Georgia's Trans Caucasus Terminals LLC, Polish rail operator PKP are the members of the consortium.
New competitive tariffs were introduced for the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route since June 1, 2016.
About 300,000-400,000 containers are expected to be transported via the Trans-Caspian international transport route by 2020, bringing huge financial profits to Azerbaijan. Growing interest in the transport infrastructures passing through Azerbaijan's territory is expected to make the country a major transport hub in the region.
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