Ukrainian, Georgian, Azerbaijani railways sign memo
By Amina Nazarli
Railway agencies of Ukraine, Georgia and Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in Odessa on the joint operation of a permanent rail-ferry service for the development of freight traffic along the EU-Ukraine-Black Sea route - Georgia - Azerbaijan - Caspian Sea - the countries of the Asian region using ferries of "Ukrzaliznytsya" (Ukrainian Railways).
The Memorandum was signed during the second International High-Level Transport Conference "Integrated Transport Corridors Europe-Asia", by the head of Ukrainian Railways Evgeny Kravtsov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Georgian Railways Mamuka Bakhtadze, and Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways Javid Gurbanov.
The Memorandum provides for the creation of a joint venture for operating ferries of the “Ukrzaliznytsya” for the development of the route the Baltic Sea - the Black Sea - the Caspian Sea.
“Partnership with our colleagues from Georgia opens new prospects for the implementation of this project. To ensure competitive transportation it is necessary to create not only a modern system of rail freight transport, but also to organize a complex work with the use of ferry crossings and establish close cooperation between the railways. Creation of a joint venture for operating ferries will serve for this,” Kravtsov said.
The parties agreed to take measures to establish a joint venture for the operation of rail ferries on the Black Sea for effective cooperation in organizing the transport of goods along the route EU-Ukraine-Black Sea-Georgia-Azerbaijan-Caspian Sea-the countries of the Asian region.
"Ukrzaliznytsya" has two ferries "Heroes of Plevna" and "Heroes of Shipka". To date, these ferries have received certificates of ownership and certificates of the right to sail under the State Flag of Ukraine.
"Integrated Transport Corridors Europe-Asia" was held on September 8 and brought together ministers, deputy ministers and heads of companies from Ukraine, Romania, Georgia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland, China, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Hungary.
The participants discussed a range of issues, including different routes for transportation of goods via the transport corridors of participating countries, creation of a single technical and technological infrastructure for transportation of goods in European and Asian and application of advanced and digital technologies in the organization of transport processes.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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