MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Levan Davitashvili, held a meeting with Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who is on a working visit to Georgia. During the meeting, the parties discussed cooperation issues in the transport sector between Georgia and Azerbaijan, main directions and future priorities, as well as ongoing projects. 

"One of the important directions of economic cooperation between Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan is cooperation in the transport sector. Therefore, we meet annually and discuss the year's plans. Today, during the meeting with my colleague, the discussion touched upon the issue of the joint project - the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway - this year the final stage of work is entering operation. We also talked about the joint venture that is being created between Georgia and Azerbaijan and which will operate this infrastructure, which will allow us to load this section more efficiently and attract more cargo," – Levan Davitashvili stated.   

The Deputy Minister Guram Guramishvili, the Head of Marabda-Kartsakhi Railway Ltd., Levan Kankava, the Head of the JSC Georgian Railway, and the Director of the National Agency of State Property of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Irakli Shengeliya attended the meeting held at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development. The Azerbaijani delegation, led by the Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Rashad Nabiyev, also included the Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways, Rovshan Rustamov, a representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Georgia, and other members of the delegation.

During the meeting, special attention was paid to the increasing role of the Middle Corridor and the measures that are being implemented with the active involvement of the parties to increase its competitiveness and attract additional cargo. As noted, this will allow countries to create more added value. The parties also discussed the issue of opening passenger-railway traffic between Georgia and Azerbaijan, which will start from May 1 of this year.  

"Passenger-railway traffic is very important for our tourism. During the meeting with my Azerbaijani colleague, we also talked about the forecast of shipments for the current year. Of course, it was very important to exchange our plans and visions so that we can be more competitive in the region and internationally with maximum coordination," – the First Vice Prime Minister commented.