Kazakhstan: Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, Rovshan Rustamov, participated in the panel discussion ‘Development of Railway Infrastructure in the Eurasian Space’ during the 7th international transport and logistics business forum ‘New Silk Way’.

According to Trend News Agency, discussions at the forum emphasized the Middle Corridor, integration of ports and railways, technological advancements, and strategies to enhance transit opportunities. Rustamov highlighted the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway’s critical role as the primary freight route between Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Trkiye, underscoring its importance in the regional transport network. He noted that the BTK, alongside the Zangezur corridor, aims to establish a unified network to boost transit potential and accommodate increasing trade flows.

Rustamov pointed out that Azerbaijan Railways handled 296 block trains, including 113 transit trains, via the Middle Corridor from China over the past nine months, marking an increase from last year’s 213 trains. The integration of Baku Port into Azerbaijan Railways this February has furthered regional cargo transport prospects by reducing transit times and costs while enhancing speed and competitiveness.

During Kazakhstan Transport Week, railway heads from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia, including Rustamov, Talgat Aldybergenov, and Lasha Abashidze, signed a Roadmap to address bottlenecks along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The agreement focuses on infrastructure improvements, rolling stock renewal, operational procedure streamlining, and strengthening trilateral coordination to accommodate growing freight volumes.

The event coincided with the 28th Kazakhstan International ‘Transport and Logistics’ Exhibition, attracting companies from several countries, including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Trkiye, the UAE, Germany, China, Latvia, Estonia, India, Russia, and Belarus. Azerbaijan Railways is represented with its own stand at the exhibition.