BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 10. The first meeting of the trilateral working group, which has been held in a hybrid format between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan on optimizing connectivity in the Caspian Sea, was convened at the headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission for the TRACECA international project in Baku, the project secretariat told Trend.
“The goal of this working group was to develop and implement measures aimed at reducing the time spent by ships in ports and ferries at berths - one of the pressing problems in the functioning of the corridor,” the TRACECA secretariat noted.
Representatives from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan extensively deliberated on the items outlined in the Action Plan, encompassing various multilateral measures aimed at enhancing the operations of shipping firms and ports, along with the conditions for international road transportation.
“As part of the Action Plan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan have outlined specific measures, including reducing cargo processing times at ports, streamlining payment procedures, integrating information systems between ports and shipping firms, and standardizing rules for the safe transportation of hazardous goods,” the multilateral meeting of the working group specified.
These measures aim to streamline resource expenditures, enhance transport infrastructure efficiency, and foster conducive conditions for international trade growth in the Caspian Sea region.
To note, TRACECA is a program that unites the transport system of 14 countries (participants of the “Basic Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for the Development of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia Corridor”), seeking to develop economic relations, trade and transport connections in the regions of Europe, the Black Sea, the Caucasus, Caspian Sea and Asia.
As per this agreement, cargo transport along the Europe-Caucasus-Asia corridor utilizes various modes, including road, rail, air, and water.
Water transport receives particular emphasis, given its pivotal role in advancing the entire corridor's development.
“Supporting and promoting transport by water routes are among the priorities of the TRACECA program,” said the secretariat of the international program, which has been operating since 1993.
