Freight transportation in East-West transport corridor via the port of Klaipėda, prospects of cooperation in Viking project, establishment of common public logistic centres, opening of direct flights between Vilnius and Baku, collaboration in information and communication technology were among the topics tackled by Rimantas Sinkevičius, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania, Azerbaijan’s Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov and Ali M. Abbasov, Minister of Communications and High Technologies, Lithuanian Ministry of Transport and Communications says.
“As you know, Lithuania has a well developed transportation infrastructure and logistics network. Therefore, it can provide solutions for safe, quick transportation of goods to Scandinavia and West European countries at highly favorable prices”, said Minister Rimantas Sinkevičius.
Rimantas Sinkevičius underlined that over the last eight months, the transit of goods between Lithuania and Azerbaijan increased by 42 percent compared to the same period in 2013. Most of which consisted of food products. In recent years, the port of Klaipėda and JSC Lithuanian Railways, well connected and equipped with modernized infrastructure, are ready to offer transport, cargo handling and storage services at competitive rates.
In order to improve freight transportation conditions, Lithuania invited Azerbaijan to contribute to the development of the Baltic Sea-Black Sea corridor and the joint project of Lithuanian, Belarusian and Ukrainian railways - container train Viking. Moldavian, Romanian and Bulgarian railway companies are already participating in the project and pilot train on a new route from Lithuania through Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and Romania to Turkey will be launched this year. Considering the current Viking route, Azerbaijan could be connected to the network via ports of Poti and Batumi in Georgia, as well as overland routes passing Turkey and Georgia.
Minister Rimantas Sinkevičius invited companies from Azerbaijan to invest and participate in the establishment of public logistic centres, set up companies in free economic zone in Klaipėda and use the possibilities Lithuania can offer in developing economic relationship with the EU Members.
In order to promote cooperation in the field of transport, the countries agreed to establish a joint working group. Further development of cooperation in transport field will be discussed at Azerbaijan-Lithuania Intergovernmental Commission meeting to be held in Shamkir (Azerbaijan).