Deputy Minister: Azerbaijan increasing investments in transport infrastructure

Azerbaijan has identified the development of transport infrastructure as one of the priority areas of its investment policy, Report informs

This was stated by the First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Elnur Aliyev at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forum on emerging markets, held in Istanbul.

He emphasized that the country is actively investing in the development of roads, railway, maritime and aviation infrastructure. As examples, Elnur Aliyev cited the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars projects, Baku International Sea Trade Port, Alat free economic zone, as well as new airports in Fuzuli, Zangilan and Lachin districts. These regions, according to him, are gradually being integrated into the logistics map of Azerbaijan.

In his speech at the panel discussion on "Multilateral corridors: expanding trade and transport links," the deputy minister also spoke about the digitalization of customs and transit operations and the application of modern technologies in this field.

According to him, Azerbaijan is strengthening mutually beneficial partnerships in transport and trade within international and regional organizations in cooperation with the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), SPECA (UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia) and countries of the region.

The event also provided information on measures taken to expand Azerbaijan's investment cooperation with other countries. It was noted that the SPECA Multilateral Trust Fund, the OTS Turkic Investment Fund, joint investment funds with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are aimed at supporting cross-border trade, modernizing logistics infrastructure and financing priority projects.

As part of the forum, Elnur Aliyev also held a meeting with the head of the OECD Eurasia Division, William Thompson, during which current issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed.