TRACECA Presents Strategic Digital and Multimodal Solutions at the CICA Port Authorities Round Table

The event opened with welcome remarks by Mr. Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY), and Mr. Kairat Sarybay, the CICA Secretary General, followed by a corporate video presentation of the Baku International Sea Trade Port. In his remarks, Mr. Rovshan Rustamov noted the important role of integrating the Port of Baku into the ADY structure, highlighting the expansion of its container capacity to 300,000 TEU by 2027 to build up the potential of the Middle Corridor.

During Session I, participants discussed issues of regional cooperation, exchanged practical experience in terminal management and cargo handling using the example of the Port of Lianyungang, and reviewed innovative practices in implementing smart port technologies, presented by the Shanghai International Port Group.

Session II, "Practical Cooperation for Connected, Digital and Multimodal Ports" was moderated by Vadim Ponomarenko, Head of Policy Development and Monitoring Division of the PS IGC TRACECA. Jasurbek Choriev, Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA, delivered a presentation on "TRACECA: Practical Cooperation for Connected, Digital and Multimodal Ports."

In his remarks, the Secretary General emphasized that, in today's economic environment, the ports of the Corridor's member states are transforming from traditional transshipment points into key multimodal hubs integrating maritime, rail, road and customs logistics chains. Using the example of the Port of Baku (Alat), the need for close synchronization between berth capacity and the pace of rail approaches was demonstrated.

During the subsequent discussion, with the participation of the representatives of APM Terminals Poti and industry experts, particular attention was paid to ensuring transport accessibility for landlocked states. It was emphasized that the uninterrupted operation of logistics chains requires strict synchronization of port capacity, simplification of customs procedures and minimization of vessel waiting time at anchorage.

The TRACECA presentation highlighted the main areas of activity of the Permanent Secretariat in the digitalisation and facilitation of trade routes: development of the Digital Corridor Concept and establishment of a unified digital ecosystem involving 14 countries; promotion of the draft Agreement on application of electronic documents to ensure the legal validity of paperless cross-border transport; and implementation of the Maritime Single Window system for data exchange with vessels in the Caspian region in accordance with the requirements of the IMO FAL Convention.

Following the discussions and exchange of experience, experts from the Permanent Secretariat of TRACECA and CICA compiled a list of key industry insights and practical recommendations. The analysis gathered will serve as a substantive basis for organising subsequent thematic round-table discussions, as well as for developing specific roadmaps for the digitalisation of port infrastructure and the harmonisation of legal regimes in the region.
 

Background:

The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is an interstate forum of 28 countries aimed at strengthening security, facilitating trade, and developing transport connectivity in Asia.

The PS IGC TRACECA acts as a systemic partner of CICA in the field of digitalisation and the development of multimodal transport. Previously, the Secretariat took part in the CICA Conference on Knowledge Sharing on the Digitalization of Transport Corridors, 10 December 2025, a cooperation that continued at the recent Port Authorities Round Table in Baku.