Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 22nd International Transport, Transit, and Logistics Exhibition – TransLogistica Caspian!
The past year has been a remarkable one for our country. For the first time, Azerbaijan hosted the 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29). This milestone not only reinforced our nation’s global standing but also paved the way for new initiatives in the adoption of sustainable and innovative transport solutions.
The high-level event, “Sustainable and Digital Middle Corridor and Beyond,” held within the framework of the conference, can be regarded as a manifestation of the high confidence and trust placed in both Azerbaijan and the Middle Corridor.
Under the strategic vision set forth by President Ilham Aliyev, consistent strategic steps are being taken to transform Azerbaijan into the region’s key transportation and logistics hub. Large-scale infrastructure projects are being implemented, and close cooperation is being established with countries along the transport corridors.
As part of the infrastructure projects implemented last year, the freight capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway has already reached 5 million tons. This is a significant step towards increasing transit shipments along the Middle Corridor and further strengthening the region as a transportation hub. Currently, work is ongoing on the construction of the second phase of the Baku International Sea Trade Port, and as a result of this project, the port's annual freight capacity will reach 25 million tons and 500,000 TEU.
In addition, several important international agreements supporting the development of transport corridors passing through the country were signed last year. Among them are the Joint Declaration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China on the establishment of a strategic partnership, which envisions the development of the Middle Corridor, and the New Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation for the development of transit freight transportation, which promotes the North-South Transport Corridor. These agreements further strengthen Azerbaijan’s role in international transport corridors, making a significant contribution to regional and global trade flows.
As a result of these efforts, transit volumes in Azerbaijan reached 14.5 million tons last year, and the number of block trains from China via the Middle Corridor increased to 300. We anticipate this figure will reach 1,000 by 2025. The measures taken to strengthen Azerbaijan’s strategic role in global freight transportation have led to growth in cargo shipments in both the East-West and West-East directions. Moreover, the anticipated opening of the Zangezur Corridor will serve as a key strategic link between transport routes, further enhancing trade and regional cooperation.
Currently, the main task of our transport policy is to propose new ideas and concepts in the sector, exploring the best global practices and ensuring their effective implementation. This, in turn, serves the creation and development of efficient, reliable, and predictable transport systems, enhanced by technological achievements that aim to maximize the country's logistical potential.
As a continuation of this policy, and based on the relevant decree of the President, a platform uniting all transport organizations in the country under one umbrella — the "Azerbaijan Transport and Communication Holding (AZCON)" — has been established. This Holding will serve to improve the operations of state enterprises in the transport and communication sectors and ensure their management from a single center.
Significant steps are also being taken towards the digitalization of the transport sector. A unified digital platform is being developed that will integrate the databases of all participants in the supply chain to increase operational efficiency. This platform will enable the more transparent and efficient delivery of transport services. The consolidation of data in a single database, as well as the optimization of connections between various types of transport, will ensure the proper and timely execution of shipments.
Dear exhibition participants,
I am confident that this year’s TransLogistica Caspian exhibition will make a significant contribution to the showcasing of innovations and the establishment of new business connections, as it has in previous years. I extend my best wishes to the organizers and participants for a successful and productive exhibition.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Rashad Nabiyev
Minister of Digital Development and Transport
of the Republic of Azerbaijan