Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan simplify visa regime for int’l transportation participants
By Leman Mammadova
The Azerbaijani-Turkmen relations are developing in different spheres and one of the most significant directions of this cooperation is transport-transit sphere.
Opportunities for the development of transport and transit relations are being facilitated by establishment of favorable infrastructure relying on great potential of both countries.
Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan have simplified visa regime for participants of international transportation between two countries, the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan reported.
Last week, the agreement on simplification of visa regime for participants of international transportation in the territories of the two countries was signed between the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
The State Migration Service of Turkmenistan has been identified as one of the authorized bodies for the implementation of this agreement. The conditions established by agreement will give impetus to the development of transport and logistics of the country.
It is noted that short-term visa issuance, extension of stay in the country, in turn, will lead to further improvement in trade and economic relations.
Earlier, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev underlined that in January-September 2018, the volume of non-oil transit from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan reached to 190,000 tons. The volume of transit cargo through the transport corridors through Azerbaijan reached 10 million tons. Oil and oil products amounted to 8.4 million tons while non-oil products estimated about two million tons.
Trade turnover between the two countries in 2017 amounted to $ 164.1 million. $ 54.1 million exported to Turkmenistan, and $ 110 million imported from Turkmenistan.
The diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan established in 1992.
Cooperation has been developing rapidly in recent years. The signing of the Strategic Partnership Declaration between the two countries within the framework of the Turkmen President's visit to Azerbaijan in August 2017 raised bilateral relations to a qualitatively new level, particularly in transportation area. The agreement has been reached on the organization of cargo transportation between the ports of Alat and Turkmenbashi.
The cooperation between two countries, both located on the East West trade route, becomes a must due to development of transport and transit routes in the region.
The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, a historic moment that further strengthened ties among littoral states, has been signed this year.
Bilateral relations in transport and trade are expected to further intensify with Turkmenistan’s joining the Southern Gas Corridor by implementation of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline aimed at delivery of Turkmen gas to Europe, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project to transport Turkmen exports, Lapis Lazuli transport corridor and International North-South Transport Corridor projects.
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