Kazakhstan, China keen on regional railway project, Azeri minister says
Kazakhstan and China are
greatly interested in the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project,
Azerbaijani Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov told journalists in
the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
According to him, currently Kazakhstan is ready to transport 10 million tons of cargo per year by the route after the railway is commissioned.
"These interests give us an opportunity to predict development of the transport infrastructure and it has great prospects, as the railway links Europe and Asia," he added.
Mammadov stressed that the implementation of the project goes beyond the region, bringing economic benefits and generating new jobs.
Construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway began in November 2007. Azerbaijan earlier allocated a $200 million, 25-year loan to Georgia on concessional terms for the upgrade of the 149-km Georgian section of the railway, which includes building a new line stretching for 29 km in the neighboring South Caucasus republic and upgrade of existing infrastructure. The over $600 million project is to be completed in 2011.
The railway will revive the historic Silk Road trade route that once connected Asia with Europe. The project will allow transporting 5 million tons of cargo, with the figure to be brought to 20 million tons in the future. Mostly dry cargo will be transported through the route. Passenger trains will travel from Baku to Turkey as well.*
According to him, currently Kazakhstan is ready to transport 10 million tons of cargo per year by the route after the railway is commissioned.
"These interests give us an opportunity to predict development of the transport infrastructure and it has great prospects, as the railway links Europe and Asia," he added.
Mammadov stressed that the implementation of the project goes beyond the region, bringing economic benefits and generating new jobs.
Construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway began in November 2007. Azerbaijan earlier allocated a $200 million, 25-year loan to Georgia on concessional terms for the upgrade of the 149-km Georgian section of the railway, which includes building a new line stretching for 29 km in the neighboring South Caucasus republic and upgrade of existing infrastructure. The over $600 million project is to be completed in 2011.
The railway will revive the historic Silk Road trade route that once connected Asia with Europe. The project will allow transporting 5 million tons of cargo, with the figure to be brought to 20 million tons in the future. Mostly dry cargo will be transported through the route. Passenger trains will travel from Baku to Turkey as well.*
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