Seven countries form association for Trans-Caspian International Transport Route development

BAKU. Sept 20 (Interfax) - The railway administrations of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China and Austria have agreed to create the Eurasian Transport Route Association with headquarters in Baku.

The decision was made after a meeting in Baku on Friday. "All official procedures will be completed in the near future and the International Association Eurasian Transport Route will be formed," the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Rovshan Rustamov told journalists on Friday.

He said the issue was discussed on Friday at a consultative meeting of the heads of railway administrations of these countries.

Earlier, Rustamov said it was necessary to create a collegial body - the Eurasian Transport Route Association - to make the Middle Corridor or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route more attractive and competitive. The body will coordinate and develop the route as a while.

"In order to achieve the set goals, the Association must carry out structured work, develop a corridor concept, formulate a tariff policy, and also study and implement the possibilities of using digital solutions in the Middle Corridor for faster and safer transport to improve the efficiency of operations," he said.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, is an international transport corridor running through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and on to Turkey and European countries. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which is now operational, is part of the corridor.