Introduction to the opportunities for carriers through the port of Baku demonstrated during a study tour

On May 19, 2022, with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the first Conference on the Prospects for Development of International Road Transport in Azerbaijan was held on the initiative of     the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA, USAID's Trade Central Asia Activity and the Central Asia Transport and Logistics Partnership.

Similar conferences will be held in Tbilisi and Batumi during the period from 21 to 23 May this year as part of a study tour.

The conference brought together over 50 participants from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, who represent government bodies and organizations, seaports and shipping companies, as well as representatives of road carriers and diplomatic missions of the member states of the Basic Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for Development of the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia Corridor.

Mr Vasif Amiraslanov, Head of the Department for Transport Industry Regulation of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Mr Kanan Gurbanov, Deputy Secretary General of the Association of International Road Carriers of Azerbaijan (ABADA), welcomed the participants of the Conference.

During the conference, the speakers shared their experience on the prospects for the development of international road transport, ports and maritime transport, border crossing procedures. In particular, the Head of the State Road Transport Service of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr Anar Rzayev, First Deputy Head of the Main Department for the Organization of Customs Control and Trade Facilitation of the State Customs Committee, Mr Samed Garalov, Chief BCP Specialist of the Baku CJSC International Sea Trade Port, Mr Javad Seyidov.
 
The TLP Chairperson, Ms Larisa Kislyakova, acquainted the participants with the results of the research on the topic “Enhancing Central Asian Caspian Sea Port Competitiveness in Accessing European Markets” (2021).

Within the framework of the question and answer session, the speakers exchanged views on all issues of interest related to border crossing procedures and other formalities required for transportation.

The main goal of this event is to realize the possibilities of transportation along the routes of the TRACECA corridor, to discuss problematic issues and find solutions for further study with the authorized bodies of the countries.
Throughout the entire period of the study tour, the Agenda of the participants included issues related to road transport along the route Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey-Bulgaria.

On 18 May, 2022, the Conference participants also visited the port in Alyat to get acquainted with the infrastructure and technological capabilities of the port.  

The Baku International Sea Trade Port is changing the logistics of the Caspian region, allowing the country to become a transport and logistics hub in the Eurasian space, significantly increasing the geopolitical and geo-economic importance of the country.
The port of Baku has become a key link of several transport routes that are actively developing in the Caspian region today, including the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia Transport Corridor (TRACECA), the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, as well as the Chinese “One Belt, One Road” Initiative.
The total area of the harbour is 117 hectares. Cargo turnover is at the first stage 15 million tons per year, including about 100,000 TEU containers. The port accepts Ro-Ro ferry ships, general cargo ships and service fleet ships. Part of the Ro-Ro drawbridges and ferry terminals are equipped with a hydraulic ramp, which ensures the safety of ships even when the water level drops.
 
To increase the efficiency of handling operations, six new German portal cranes for 80, 40, 32 tons were installed in the port. On the territory of the harbour there are cargo areas and warehouses, border and customs points, as well as infrastructure for the simultaneous placement of more than 1,200 containers, including refrigerated ones.

During the study tour, the participants will also get acquainted with the activities of the port of Batumi, as well as the checkpoint on the border of Georgia and Turkey "Sarpi".

Moreover, within the study tour, the meeting participants were acquainted with the activities, initiatives and projects of the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA aimed at the development of the international transport corridor.

These events are held with the support of the USAID's Trade Central Asia Activity in close cooperation with the Union of Transport Workers of Kazakhstan KazLogistics.