French ambassador visits new Baku Port in Alat settlement

Minister of Transport, Communications  and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ramin Guluzade and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France  to Azerbaijan Aurelia Bouchez  visited the new Port of Baku under construction in Alat settlement.

During the meeting, Minister Ramin Guluzade noted that the new Baku Port under construction in Alat settlement is the largest port in  the Caspian region. After  completion of the first phase of  construction in the area, the port’s cargo handling  capacity will be 15 million tons per year, with the end of the last phase - 25 million tons and 1 million TEU containers.

The Minister also stressed that Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the new Baku Port being built in Alat settlement, are major transport projects of the country and an integral part of the restored ancient Silk Road. At the same time, the Minister recalled his meeting with his French counterpart during his visit to France in the summer of this year and expressed his willingness to cooperate  in the field of telecommunications and transport. Ramin Guluzade also invited French companies to participate in the 23rd Bakutel exhibition to be held on December 5-8 in Baku.

Director General of Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC Taleh Ziyadov  informed the guests about the role of Azerbaijan in the historical  Silk Road, the need to build a new port in Alat, as well as its contribution to the economy of the country and the region.

Taleh  Ziyadov invited French companies  to  carry out joint activities at the new port. The Director  General  also informed  the Ambassador  that  the annual meeting of the International  Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) will be held in Baku Port on May 8-11,  2018.

Ambassador  of  France to Azerbaijan, Mrs. Aurelia Bouchez, in turn, said that they closely follow  the construction of the new Baku Port in Alat settlement. According to her, the port plays an important role in the policy of the Government of Azerbaijan in turning the country into a transport hub and France supports the project both economically and politically.

The Ambassador noted the interest of French ports Marseille, Le port du Havre  and Dunkerque  in cooperation with the Baku Port.