The Republic of Azerbaijan officially assumed the chairmanship in the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA.

On 6 December 2019, the International Conference dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of signing the Basic Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for Development of the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia Corridor and the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) TRACECA was held in Baku. At the 14th Meeting of the IGC TRACECA, the Republic of Azerbaijan assumed the Chairmanship in the IGC TRACECA.

The Meeting was attended by the official representatives of the Governments of the Parties to the “Basic Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for Development of the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia Corridor” (MLA), the Permanent Representatives (National Secretaries) of the Permanent Secretariat (PS) of the IGC TRACECA in the MLA member states, the observer countries in the Intergovernmental Commission, representatives of the international organizations and financial institutions.  

Within the framework of the opening ceremony of the TRACECA Conference the official message of H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was conveyed to the participants of the 14th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA:
 
“The International Conference (7-8 September, 1998, Baku) dedicated to the restoration of the Historic Silk Road held on the initiative of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev with participation of the nine Heads of States (Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan), 13 international organizations and delegations of 32 states signifies a special meaning and consideration attached by our country to the TRACECA Programme. Upon the outcomes of this Conference within the framework of the European Union TRACECA Programme the “Basic Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for Development of the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia Corridor" was signed. On 21 February, 2001, in Baku with the participation of National Leader Heydar Aliyev the opening of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA was held.

During the twenty years of activity the TRACECA Programme made a significant contribution to the promotion of multimodal transportation between member states, creation of favourable conditions for transit traffic, broadening of cooperation in the field of development of trade and economic relations and transport connectivity, as well as to the growth of economic potential of these states.

Recognizing the importance of developing transport corridors and related infrastructure in the region of the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia, the Republic of Azerbaijan invests in the implementation of a number of projects, establishes cooperation on a bilateral and multilateral basis. In this regard, I would like to emphasize that Azerbaijan as an initiator of essential regional projects is at the same time a key contributor to such important international projects as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the Southern Gas Corridor, a realizer of the East-West and South-West road projects, the Baku International Sea Trade Port and other local projects providing assistance to transportation processes along international transport corridors, including promotion of multimodal infrastructure". 

The message also says: "Paying much attention to cooperation in the transport sector the Republic of Azerbaijan regards the activity of the Programme in the forthcoming period as the beginning of a new stage in the context of development of transport sectors of our countries". 

During the Anniversary Conference and the 14th Meeting of the IGC, the official welcoming speech was delivered by Mr. Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the IGC TRACECA. There were also heard the Report of the Secretary General on the activities of the PS IGC TRACECA for the period between the 13th and 14th Annual Meetings of the IGC TRACECA, reports of the Heads of the Delegations of 13 MLA TRACECA member states, observer states in the IGC TRACECA, representatives of international organizations and financial institutions.

The member states in accordance with the Agenda considered a number of issues on the development of the international transport corridor TRACECA, particularly the implementation of the Strategy of the IGC TRACECA for development of the international transport corridor Europe-the Caucasus-Asia by the MLA member states for the period 2016-2026. 

Within the framework of the IGC Agenda and taking into account the common agreement of all TRACECA member states, the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA approved the thematic Guide “TRACECA Guide for Border Crossing” which will be available on the web-page in the near future. 

The Meeting participants in view of ever-increasing requirements of international structures and with the view of achieving solid performance made a decision on monitoring the realization of the measures within the framework of the Regional Action Strategy on Maritime Safety and Security and Environmental Protection for the period up to 2021. 

The Intergovernmental Commission recommended to continue the negotiations on concluding a Memorandum on Cooperation between the PS IGC TRACECA and the Association of Legal Entities the «International Association “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route»” ALE “IA “TITR”). 

Upon the outcomes of the 14th IGC Meeting, the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA elected Mr. Asset Assavbayev (representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan) as Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA.
 
The International transport corridor TRACECA consists of the transport system of 13 member states as well as the observer states in the IGC TRACECA united by the idea of further development of the international transport corridor in the East-West direction. 

- Baku Declaration on the International Conference dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of signing the Basic Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for Development of the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia Corridor and the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) TRACECA, 6 December 2019, Baku, Azerbaijan

- Agenda_IGC_XIV

- Final Resolutions IGC

- Report of the realization of the Action_Plan for 2018-2021 for implementation of the Strategy of the IGC TRACECA for development of the international transport corridor “Europe-the Caucasus-Asia” for 2016-2026 developed on the basis of the TRACECA Master Plan and proposals of the Parties (TRACECA Strategy 2026)

- TRACECA Guide for Border Crossing

- Evaluation of the measures efficiency in the TRACECA countries regarding the implementation of Priority Actions within “TRACECA Regional Action Strategy on Maritime Safety and Security and Environmental Protection for the period up to 2021

- Preliminary Information on using TRACECA Multilateral Permits (issued in 2018) by hauliers to perform international road traffic during the period from 1 January 2018 to 31 January 2019

- MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION between the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA (PS IGC TRACECA) and the Association of Legal Entities  of the International Association “Trans-Caspian
International Transport Route” (ALE IA TITR)

- List of participants