Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 13
By Sara Israfilbayova - Trend:
Transit rail traffic between Azerbaijan and Russia is expected to increase in 2019, considering the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor and transit development plans in general adopted at the state level in Russia, Vyacheslav Valentik, director general of RZD Logistics JSC, told Trend.
He noted that Azerbaijan has historically been an important partner of Russia both in trade and transport relations, adding that in addition to mutual trade, the countries are “windows” for each other to Asia and Europe, respectively.
Valentik said that export-import rail traffic from Russia to Azerbaijan for 11 months of 2018 amounted to 2.9 million tons (forest products, grain, ferrous metals, oil products, chemical fertilizers), from Azerbaijan to Russia – 608,000 tons (mainly oil, vegetables and fruits, industrial raw materials and molding materials).
“In 2019, considering the forecast of Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development regarding the growth of industrial production, it is natural to expect the growth in Russian exports,” he noted. “Import of vegetables and fruits is also possible. RZD Logistics JSC is developing quality agrologistics.”
He added that for 11 months of 2018, railway transit to/from Azerbaijan through Russia, as well as through Russia and Azerbaijan amounted to 624,000 tons, while transportation from Russia to Iran through Azerbaijan amounted to 73,000 tons.
Commenting on the issue of new joint projects, Valentik noted that drafting several joint projects is underway between RZD Logistics JSC and the structures of Azerbaijan Railways and the year 2019 promises to be very interesting in terms of developing bilateral cooperation.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @IsrafilbekovaS
