Infrastructure works on BTK railway may be completed next year

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway is the project of the century, Zviad Chumburidze, Secretary-General of the EU-Georgia Business Council, told Report.

"We must try to complete this project," he said.

According to him, Azerbaijan and Georgia are ready to complete the work on the project: "We must work together very actively to complete the project. We, as the Georgian side, are ready for this. I hope that next year we will complete all the work related to BTK."

He commented on the issue of a loan needed to complete the Georgian part of the BTK, saying this question should be asked to the authorities of Azerbaijan and Georgia.

"I have no information about that. If necessary, I hope that both sides will make a decision."

Chumburidze emphasized that the BTK had changed the business environment.

He said that the European Union-Georgia Business Council has started contributing to the existing cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia since 2020: "In this regard, we organized a business forum between Azerbaijan and Georgia on June 29. This forum was organized with the support of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Georgia, and the Embassy of Georgia in Azerbaijan. We develop and promote business cooperation between countries through close cooperation with such state bodies. Forty companies from Georgia and ninety from Azerbaijan, 130 companies in total, participated in the event. It is an excellent start after the pandemic. Those companies have operated in energy, agriculture and other fields."

According to him, this year marks the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia: "On this occasion, a business forum will be held in Georgia. Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov will visit Georgia for the forum."

Chumburidze emphasized that Azerbaijan is Georgia's strategic partner: "We have a firm partnership. We should encourage relationships. Our Council is ready to foster these relations."

According to him, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye are trying to expand their existing cooperation: "Our Council supports it. Because we understand that this cooperation is vital for the countries, we must be together by all means."

In January-May this year, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Georgia increased by 3% compared to the same period of 2020 and amounted to $390.6 million. Exports to Georgia amounted to $347.134 million, and the imports from the country made $43.479 million. Today, over three thousand companies with Azerbaijani capital are registered in Georgia. More than 600 companies with Georgian capital are registered in Azerbaijan.