Baku, Barcelona ports ink cooperation accord

By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Baku International Sea Trade Port and Barcelona Port.

The document was signed by the head of the Baku Port training center, Orkhan Adigozalov, and representatives from the Barcelona Port delegation during an event on "green ports, new port management tools" held in Baku on March 10.

The memorandum aims to transform Baku Port's training center into a regional training and logistics hub.

Furthermore, the document states that the training centers at the ports of Baku and Barcelona will make significant contributions to the development of human capital in accordance with the requirements of new realities.

"Green" port

Baku International Sea Trade Port Director-General Taleh Ziyadov stated that the work to turn the port into a "green" port in the next 10 years is underway.

He noted that the completion of the implementation of the joint project with the EU will be an incentive for the implementation of other digital projects.

"Our port, together with the EU, is working to establish sustainable activities. Azerbaijan has done a lot of work in the field of digitalization, in particular, in the entrepreneurship and business sectors. We have had a lot of practice in testing and using digital tools over the past two years," he said.

Noting that it is proposed to transfer the port's terminals to private sector management within the next 10 years, he added that this will improve work efficiency and expand international cooperation.

Ziyadov emphasized that the Zangazur corridor will open the shortest routes in all directions, increasing goods transshipment through Azerbaijan.

"The geographical location of our country and the port will make Azerbaijan a logistics hub and we are already trying in this direction," he said.

Cooperation with EU

The cooperation department head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, Victor Bozhkov, stressed that the EU is a strong partner of Azerbaijan in all economic projects.

He stated that the EU will continue to support Azerbaijan's economy through grant funding and other means.

"We have many projects in Azerbaijan, and our goal is to make business in the country sustainable. The Port of Baku is one of the priority organizations where we focus on project implementation and support. I am confident that joint projects with the port in the area of digitalization and transition to green technology will expand," he said.

The official added that Baku Port is part of the EU investment program.

Azerbaijan's role in global supply chain

Moreover, Taleh Ziyadov told reporters that Azerbaijan's role in the global supply chain between Europe and Central Asia is expected to increase.

He mentioned that recent events reveal the growth of capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. Ziyadov added that the potential of the route in the short and medium term will only grow.

"This route is of interest not only for the countries of the region but also for landlocked states. It is important in terms of establishing logistics between China and Europe as well," he said.

The official added that Azerbaijan is on the verge of becoming a logistics hub, adding that containers from the Black Sea ports are already being delivered to the Baku port, so Azerbaijan is going to play the role of a distribution center.

"And, thirdly, the new realities in the implementation of the Zangazur corridor will cover not only the cargo transportation along the North-South route, from Central Asia and China but also from the Mediterranean region," he said.

Ziyadov also noted that Azerbaijan's transport infrastructure would allow the implementation of a sustainable supply chain between the countries of Europe and Central Asia.