Section of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway put into full operation
Georgia and Azerbaijan signed a protocol of the Council for Bilateral Coordination providing for the commissioning of a new section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, the press service of the Georgian Ministry of Economy reported.
The protocol on the bilateral coordination council was signed in Baku on Monday, May 18, by Georgian Minister of Economy Mariam Kvirivishvili and Azerbaijani Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev. This successfully completed the long-term historical process of implementing the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, a strategic initiative whose foundation was laid in 2007.
"All details regarding the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway have been agreed upon, and the specified section of the railway will be launched in the near future. Georgian Railways (GR) will handle operations, and a joint venture will be established with the Azerbaijani side," Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated.
"Together with Azerbaijan, we are connecting the Caspian Sea with the Black Sea, and accordingly Europe with Asia, and the development of cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan is of truly strategic importance, and in this regard these agreements are of historical significance and represent an important milestone," he noted.
As the Georgian Ministry of Economy noted, over many years the project faced numerous technical, infrastructural, legal, and organizational problems that hindered its full completion and full-scale operation.
According to the ministry, the BTK project is strategic and is based on the common vision of the three countries, regional partnership, and the shared goal of strengthening sustainable connectivity between Asia and Europe.
In addition, the project once again confirms that regional infrastructure initiatives of this scale can only be implemented through joint efforts, coordination, and partnership.
"The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line is already one of the key components of the Middle Corridor and plays a special role in the formation of modern, reliable, and competitive transport and logistics routes between Asia and Europe," the Ministry of Economy said in a statement.
As the ministry noted, the significance of the project is growing especially against the backdrop of increasing cargo flows between China and Europe and heightened international interest in the Middle Corridor.
Source: Sputnik Georgia
