Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.1
By Maksim Tsurkov – Trend:
The volume of cargo transportation from Turkey to Central Asia through Azerbaijan almost hasn’t changed, there is only a slight decrease in the number of trucks, permanent representative (national secretary) of the IGC TRACECA in Azerbaijan, expert Akif Mustafayev told Trend.
He noted that the decrease in the number of trucks is related to security issues and the decline of trade turnover in the region.
“The decrease in the number of trucks is due to the slowdown in their movement, as the vehicles are often subject to checking due to the latest developments in Turkey,” said Mustafayev.
At the same time, the trade turnover between the countries of the region has dropped by around 40 percent, he added.
Mustafayev pointed out that economic crisis is being observed in the whole world, therefore, the growth of cargo transportation is not as big as expected.
The expert believes that a number of important events will take place soon and they will positively affect the level of trade turnover in the region.
“The big countries of the region need to strengthen the economic ties,” he said. “The improvement in Russian-Turkish relations, the meeting of the two countries’ presidents in St. Petersburg on August 9, stabilization of the situation in Turkey, improvement in Turkish-Israeli relations, as well as undoubtedly, the meeting of Azerbaijani, Russian and Iranian presidents in Baku Aug.8 will contribute to this.”
The decisions to be made by the countries’ leaders in the upcoming meetings will affect the development of trade and increase of not only cargo transportation, but also passenger transportation, added Mustafayev.
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