Cargo delivery time from Kazakhstan to Georgian ports via Azerbaijan to be halved in 2024 - Azerbaijan PM

BAKU. Oct 27 (Interfax) - The delivery time for cargo from Kazakhstan to Georgian ports via Azerbaijan will halved to 11-15 days in 2024, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov said in a statement.

"The delivery time of goods from Kazakhstan to Georgian ports [via Azerbaijan] has been significantly reduced compared to recent years. The goal for next year is to cut the delivery time of goods in half to 11-15 days," Asadov said on Thursday at the Silk Road forum in Tbilisi.

Asadov believes that the transport corridor should become "one of the safest and fastest in the world."

Asadov also noted that the potential of the Middle Corridor, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), is closely related to throughput capacity at the ports and along railways.

"In this regard, active work is underway to increase the capacity of the Baku International Sea Trade Port, which is one of the largest trade ports in the Caspian Sea, from 15 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes per year," the prime minister said.

Asadov further noted the importance of the Georgian ports of Poti and Batumi, and emphasized that the development of the Middle Corridor would be facilitated by the expansion of another Georgian port, Kulevi.

The Trans-Caspian international transport route runs through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and further to Turkey and European countries. The volume of cargo transportation along the TITR could increase 17.6% year-on-year in 2023. The route's throughput capacity is expected to reach 10 million tonnes per year by 2025.