Azerbaijan to optimize tariffs for transit cargo
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan plans to optimize tariffs for transit cargo by rail and sea transport, freight forwarding services, as well as services provided at seaports.
The decision to formulate such a proposal was taken at the first meeting of the Coordinating Council on transit cargo, held at the Baku Business Center, the Economy and Industry Ministry reported on November 14.
The Coordinating Council on transit cargo was established in Azerbaijan, the region's future transport hub, in October. The Council is overseeing regulations regarding the carriage of transit goods via Azerbaijan.
Moreover, it was also decided to reduce the period for cargo transit, simplify procedures and ensure transparency of rules and procedures for cargo transportation. Proposals to ensure these will be prepared in the near future.
Addressing the event, Economy and Industry Minister and Chairman of the Coordination Council Shahin Mustafayev stressed that economic diversification and development of non-oil sector is a matter of priority in the economic and social policy being pursued by the President of Azerbaijan.
In this regard, the transport sector and transit cargo, especially, are of particular importance.
The meeting decided to implement the necessary measures required to register and facilitate the conclusion of agreements in the field of transit cargo and creation of a portal for transit cargo transportation.
The participants also discussed the current state of transit cargo traffic and ways to improve efficiency of this sector.
The participants who use the services of transport agencies, carriers and other transport services were asked to approach the Coordination Council in case of any questions or problems at Prospect Khojaly, 37 (Demirchi Tower , 20th floor), phone: 488-80-38, fax: 488-80-48, e-mail: [email protected].
Azerbaijan, located on the edge of the East and West, wants to use this strategically favorable location to become a country conducive for goods transit by following the ‘one contact’ principle.
Azerbaijan plays a leading role, not only in large-scale projects focused on the transportation of oil and gas, but in goods transportation as well, being a major part of the global corridor from China to Europe.
The country has been making advances in its perusal of a policy to become a transportation hub in the region for over 15 years, pouring considerable funds into this large-scale project.
Experts believe that the realization of such a global project will contribute to the diversification of the economy, reduced dependence on the oil sector, and will also help the private sector, thus strengthening the country’s role in the region.
Earlier this month, Azerbaijan and Georgia discussed possibilities to strengthen cooperation in transportation. During a recent working visit to Georgia, President Ilham Aliyev had urged Georgia to pursue a common tariff policy to substantially increase the volume of cargo being transported.
Earlier, Vice Prime Minister Abid Sharifov had said tariffs for rail and maritime transport in Azerbaijan will depend on the goods themselves, including their categories.
The volume of cargo transportation through Azerbaijan has declined over the past two years. The establishment of the Coordinating Council is expected to increase this volume.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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