Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 28
By Rashid Shirinov – Trend:
At the initial stage, the freight traffic along the Lapis Lazuli Corridor (Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey) can reach 2-3 million tons per year, the National Secretary of the Transport Cooperation Program (TRACECA – Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia) for Azerbaijan Akif Mustafayev told Trend.
He noted that the implementation of the project is quite real, as the most important thing – an agreement between the official parties – already exists.
"The most important thing is that there is an agreement. We need to further develop the infrastructure, build a railway from Afghanistan to Turkmenistan with access to other states, and this all requires large investments," Mustafayev said.
He noted that the US is very interested in the implementation of this project.
Mustafayev further said that the Lapis Lazuli Corridor to some extent repeats the TRACECA corridor. The national secretary said that there is an issue of coordination between TRACECA and Lapis Lazuli and that Azerbaijan will play a special role in this matter.
"TRACECA became successful for a reason. At the time, this project was supported by the European Commission. To implement this project, the Commission financed 176 projects totaling 160 million euros, " he said, listing several projects that were financed in Azerbaijan: restoration of the Red Bridge between Azerbaijan and Georgia, purchase of navigation equipment for the Caspian Shipping Company and the Baku Port.
Mustafayev noted that the project would not be implemented without the financial support of the European Commission. In addition, the countries themselves also did a lot. For example, Azerbaijan invested hundreds of millions of dollars to develop highways, build a new international port, etc.
The national secretary said that the same is required for the Lapis Lazuli project.
"It requires much work of the countries themselves as well as additional investments," Mustafayev noted.
According to the Lapis Lazuli transit project, railways and highways will connect the city of Turgundi in the Afghan province of Herat with Ashgabat, and further with the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi. The corridor will continue to Baku, and will extend further through Tbilisi to Ankara - with branches to Poti and Batumi - and further from Ankara to Istanbul.
The budget of the project is estimated at $2 billion. This large-scale project is designed to increase the economic integration of the region and the volume of trade.
TRACECA is an international transport cooperation program between the EU and partner countries in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. The organization has a permanent secretariat in Baku.
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