Georgian Deputy Economy Minister says full launch of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway opens new chapter in regional connectivity
Tamar Ioseliani
Photo: Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia
Tamar Ioseliani, Georgia’s deputy minister of economy and sustainable development, said on Tuesday that the full operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway marks a new chapter in regional transport cooperation and will significantly bolster the Middle Corridor linking Asia and Europe.
Ioseliani’s comments followed the signing of a bilateral protocol between Georgia and Azerbaijan regarding the newly completed section of the railway line. The deputy minister hailed the agreement as a historic decision that introduces an essential asset to the region's infrastructure network.
“Transport relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan are entering a qualitatively new stage”, Ioseliani said. “Yesterday was a historic day. With the signing of this agreement, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway enters full operation. This decision creates an additional logistics system in our region that will serve the Middle Corridor and enhance its competitiveness. As a result, connectivity between the three partner countries - Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan - and their links to Central Asia, China, and the wider region will become much more flexible, efficient, and rapid”.
She explained that the operational railway will fundamentally improve connectivity between Ankara, Tbilisi, and Baku while optimizing freight transit with China and Central Asia. Specifically, full-scale operations are projected to slash cargo transit times between Asia and Europe to approximately 10 days, while scaling the corridor’s annual capacity up to 5 million tons.
Furthermore, Ioseliani emphasized that the Georgian section of the line will be managed by Georgian Railway, underscoring the country's central role in the corridor's long-term viability.
“It is highly significant that the Georgian section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be operated by Georgian Railway”, Ioseliani concluded. “This highlights the pivotal role of Georgia and our domestic railway infrastructure in ensuring the efficient, sustainable, and competitive functioning of the Middle Corridor”.
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