The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is untapping its potential. Presently, in view of Western sanctions against Russia, which have affected the transport and logistics system, business has begun to look for new ways to transit goods. Thus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia intend to establish a joint venture. It is aimed at facilitating transportation and will address the issues of pass-through tariff setting and cargo declaration. Azerbaijan Railways has already started transporting fuel oil from Kazakhstan along this transcontinental route.
“In light of the turbulence and tension around the situation with Ukraine, this route is now becoming the only alternative in terms of the development of transport between China and Europe. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan play an exceptional role here. Suffice it to say that in recent years, feeder communication has been actively developing within this route. In particular, the recently launched Turkistan ferry operates quite effectively on this route and allows increasing the volume of cargo transportation,” said Ilgar Velizade, Head of the ‘South Caucasus’ Club of Political Scientists.
The countries of the region now have high expectations regarding transit capacity. Container traffic on the trans-Caspian route increased by more than a half last year. Thus, in just two months of 2022, the growth amounted to 15 percent.
Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova
Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova
