First Meeting of the ITF Working Group on the Efficiency and Digitalisation of Freight Transport Held
The first meeting of the International Transport Forum (ITF) Working Group on the Efficiency and Digitalisation of Freight Transport was held in a hybrid format. Azerbaijan was represented at the meeting by officials from the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Secretariat of the Coordination Council for Transit Freight, the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, and Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC.
The speakers provided information on the institutional mechanisms aimed at developing Azerbaijan’s transit potential, including the activities of the Council.
They also highlighted Azerbaijan’s role in the international North–South and East–West (Middle Corridor) transport corridors passing through the country, the sustained growth in transit freight volumes, the expansion of container transport, and the development objectives for these corridors. Existing challenges in transit freight transport were also analysed, and measures taken to address them were outlined.
It was noted that, alongside infrastructure development, institutional coordination, digital interoperability, and regional cooperation should also be strengthened. The ITF Secretariat emphasised that Azerbaijan’s experience would make a significant contribution to the study being conducted.
The Working Group operates within the framework of the 2026–2027 Work Programme approved by ITF member countries. The preparation of a report covering international practices, a comparative analysis across member countries, and policy recommendations is envisaged. The policy recommendation on the “Digitalisation of International Freight Transport”, adopted during Azerbaijan’s Presidency of the ITF, will serve as one of the Working Group’s key reference documents. Proposals concerning the Middle Corridor put forward at the Summit held in Leipzig will also be taken into account as part of the research process.
Azerbaijan’s active participation in this Working Group, together with references to international documents adopted under its Presidency, further demonstrates the country’s contribution to shaping international transport policy.
