On August 26, Prime Minister Ali Asadov attended the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council as a guest in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, Report informs, citing the Cabinet of Ministers.
Speaking at the meeting, PM pointed out that Azerbaijan has close relations and economic cooperation with almost all countries that are members of the Eurasian Economic Union. He said that these relations are based on the principles of mutual respect for territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and consideration of each other's national interests.
He emphasized that Azerbaijan is implementing a strategic course aimed at ensuring cooperation and peace on a regional and global scale and forming a stable security system.
Asadov said that despite the negative trends in the global economy, good economic growth rates were recorded in the first half of this year in Azerbaijan.
According to him, the economic growth in Azerbaijan was 6.2% in 6 months. The non-oil economy increased by 9.6%. The country's foreign trade turnover has shown an upsurge of more than 70%, the export of its products has more than doubled, and non-oil export has been boosted by 25%.
PM said that Azerbaijan has invested in the modernization of transport infrastructure for the implementation of important projects on the creation of international transport and logistics corridors and continues to do so. He emphasized that Azerbaijan is an essential link in some projects such as the North-South and East-West international transport corridors and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.
"We observe that freight transportation on various routes passing through the territory of our country is increasing every year. Only in 6 months of the current year, the volume of transit transportation increased by more than 50%. The volume of transit cargo transported from the new Alat International Sea Trade Port on the Caspian Sea is rising. The port infrastructure allows transporting up to 15 million tons of cargo annually, including 100,000 TEU containers. However, the expansion in freight traffic and the associated forecasts require an increase in its launch capacity. With this in mind, we have laid the foundation for the second phase of expanding the port's cargo capacity to 25 million tons of cargo and 500,000 TEU containers," he said.
Asadov pointed out that Azerbaijan is ready to create all kinds of conditions for its Eurasian Economic Union partners to use the country's transit potential: "This thesis is further strengthened by the new realities that have arisen in the region, which create good opportunities for the opening of transport communications, as well as new transport and trade routes."