BAKU, Azerbaijan, September
30. The institutional mechanisms aimed at
developing Azerbaijan's transit potential were discussed at the
inaugural meeting of the International Transport Forum (ITF)
Working Group on "Efficiency and digitalization of freight
transport".
This was reported by the Ministry of Digital Development and
Transport.
According to the report, the meeting held in a hybrid format was
attended by representatives from the Ministry of Digital
Development and Transport, the Secretariat of the Coordination
Council on Transit Freight Transportation, the Azerbaijan Land
Transport Agency, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, and Azerbaijan Airlines
CJSC.
Discussions also covered the country's role in the North–South
and East–West (Middle Corridor) international transport corridors
passing through Azerbaijan, the sustained growth of transit freight
and expansion of container shipping, and development goals for
these corridors. Furthermore, existing challenges in transit
freight transportation were analyzed, and measures being taken in
this area were highlighted.
During the meeting, it was noted that, alongside infrastructure
development, institutional coordination, digital interoperability,
and regional cooperation must be strengthened in parallel. The ITF
Secretariat emphasized that Azerbaijan's experience would make a
significant contribution to the ongoing research.
The working group operates within the framework of the 2026–2027
Work Programme approved by the member countries of the ITF. It’s
planned to prepare a report covering current international
practices, a comparative analysis across member countries, and
policy recommendations. The policy recommendation on the
"Digitalization of international freight transport" adopted during
Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the ITF will serve as one of the
working group's key reference documents. Proposals regarding the
Middle Corridor, voiced during the summit held in Leipzig, will
also be taken into account during the research process.
The ministry noted that Azerbaijan's active participation in
this working group, along with the reliance on international
documents adopted under its chairmanship, further demonstrates the
country's contribution to shaping international transport
policy.
