Delegation led by Minister Ramin Guluzade participated in 3rd Tbilisi Silk Road Forum in Georgia
An international forum “The 3rd Tbilisi Silk Road Forum: Partnership for Global Impact” began its work today in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Azerbaijan at the two-day event was represented by a delegation led by Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Ramin Guluzade.
Ramin Guluzade spoke on the panel “Transport Connectivity – Transformation along the Silk Road and beyond.” The Minister noted that along with ensuring efficient transport, since its founding, the ancient Silk Road has been one of the roads to unite civilizations and cultures, and bring peoples and nations together. He noted that in today’s world, without reliable transport links satisfying their transport needs the effective integration of countries into the global economic community is impossible. According to him, in this regard the issue of rational organization of international transport is highly topical. “The selection and implementation of priority projects, the creation of effective transport and logistics systems and the achievement of coordinated management of transport operations are issues that need particular attention,” the Minister emphasized.
Noting that in current situations the approach to the purpose of transport should be perceived as a system of global activity, Ramin Guluzade said that the basis of the transport policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan is constituted by institutional reforms, the application of a logistics concept, improvement of the legal framework, upgrading infrastructure and the introduction of information technologies in the field of transport. “Thanks to the support of President Ilham Aliyev, the country’s transport sector is becoming increasingly important in ensuring economic growth and sustainable development. Being an important link on the route of the New Silk Road, Azerbaijan attaches great importance to regional and greater cooperation. In recent decades, Azerbaijan has been the initiator and active participant in a number of projects to develop Euro-Asian transport links passing through the territory of the Caucasus. Among them, I would like to note the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the launch of the Baku International Sea Trade Port,” said Ramin Guluzade.
The Minister stressed that all this happens in close cooperation with partners from other countries: “I would like to emphasize close business and partnership relations with our colleagues from Georgia, Turkey and Kazakhstan, who are attending this event. But our cooperation network is much broader, it covers other countries of our region. Therefore, it is possible to ensure effective cooperation”.
Ramin Guluzade noted that thanks to the efforts and trust of the heads of our states, the friendly and good neighborly relations between our countries, transport cooperation built on a solid foundation are currently steadily developing and playing a key role in economic relations.
Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Elmir Velizade spoke in the panel “Connecting to Europe – The Development of the Extended Trans-European Transport Network”.
The Deputy Minister highlighted the development of all areas of transport in the country over the past 15 years, saying the transport sector in Azerbaijan is a priority. “Roads that meet high standards are being built in the country. There is already such a road connecting Azerbaijan with Georgia. Work is under way to develop roads with Iran. Such a new road is also being built towards Russia.”
The Deputy Minister also touched upon the progress made in Azerbaijan in the development of railways, maritime and air transport.
Elmir Velizade also noted that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project is a great regional success.
