Baku hosts conference on Great Silk Road

The event was attended by representatives of European and Asian countries. The main aim of the international conference is to present to the world community the wide information on international and regional importance, the prospects of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, transportation opportunities and transit potential of Azerbaijan, building of an international reputation and prestige of our country as an efficient transport hub between Europe and Asia.The Conference is also important in terms of attracting to the railway line freight and passenger traffic in result of which the competitiveness of the international transport corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRASECA) will increase. An intergovernmental agreement on the establishment of the railway corridor Baku-Tbilisi-Kars was signed on February 7, 2007 between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.The project envisages the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway extending to 98 km, 68 km of which will be on the territory of Turkey, 30 km on Georgia, as well as the reconstruction of Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi section extending to 183 km in Georgia. Construction of the Georgian part funded by Azerbaijan, who allocated two concessional loans to Georgia totaling AZN 775 m.The commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars is planned for 2015.Bakudaily.Az