First Freight Train from Azerbaijan Arrives in Turkey via Upgraded BTK Railway
The inaugural freight train from Azerbaijan reached Turkey early on May 25, marking a significant milestone in regional connectivity via the recently upgraded Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line. The train, laden with 632 tons of plastic raw materials in 20 containers, completed its journey from Baku to Kars.
Departing Baku on May 20, the train arrived at Kars station at 04:50 local time. Following the necessary customs procedures, the cargo was transported to the Kars logistics center.
The modernization and expansion of the 184-kilometer Georgian section of the BTK railway began on May 16, 2023, and concluded on May 20, 2024. These enhancements aim to solidify the railway's status as a key transport artery in the region, boosting its annual capacity to 5 million tons. This expansion is anticipated to greatly enhance the efficiency of cargo deliveries from China and Central Asian countries to Europe through Azerbaijan.
The volume of transit cargo on this route has surged, more than doubling in recent years to reach 6.8 million tons in 2023. This increase underscores the BTK railway's growing importance as a vital transport corridor across Eurasia.
In a strategic move to further improve railway operations and attract additional cargo, Azerbaijan and Georgia have established a joint venture to manage the BTK. This partnership is expected to enhance transportation efficiency and draw more freight traffic to this critical route.
Economics
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On May 25, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan has published Decision No. 5, dated May 15, 2024, which approves new instructions for conducting auctions and selling confiscated, ownerless property and assets transferred to state ownership by inheritance. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency and transparency in these processes.
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The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan has announced significant changes starting from June 20 to the “Conditions and Procedure for Providing Persons with Disabilities with Rehabilitation Means,” originally approved on December 18, 2020. The changes, aimed at improving the supply and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment, were made public on June 20, 2024.
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Turan News Agency in an article "In terms of the real purchasing power of the man at, the average salary is lower than in 2014" has disputed the Azerbaijani government's assertions of an 80% increase in average salaries over the past decade, arguing that the real purchasing power of the manat has declined significantly since 2014. According to Turan, while salaries have indeed risen in nominal manat terms, the devaluation of the manat in 2015 and subsequent price hikes for essential goods have eroded this growth.
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Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan held discussions aimed at increasing the volume of multimodal cargo transportation along the Central Asia-Europe-Central Asia and China-Europe-China corridors. Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of CJSC, met with Azat Atamuradov, Chairman of Turkmen Railways, and a high-level delegation from the Turkmendenizderyaellary agency in Ashgabat to explore enhanced cooperation in the railway sector.
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