The FINANCIAL — The development of a pilot container train route, as well as railway-ferry communication on the Caspian Sea and logistic centres in Central Asia, were among the issues in focus at a Regional Working Group meeting held under the EU-funded TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) programme in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, according to EU Neighbourhood Info.
During the discussions, the parties noted the need for further improvement of action plans for the realization of pilot projects, including the organization of a pilot container train route within the framework of the “Silk Wind” Project (connecting the Chinese border – Kazakhstan – the Caspian Sea – South Caucasus countries and then Turkey).
Participants also heard that work on an agreement on the operation of railway-ferry terminals on the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea and its subsequent signing would promote the creation of an efficient basis for the development and improvement of international traffic in the TRACECA region.
One of the prime factors among key international transport players is the principle of timely delivery, quality service and competitive price. In this context an analysis carried out by the TRACECA LOGMOS project made the case against the monopoly of transport logistic service operators. A proper competitive environment in the logistic services’ market within the TRACECA region, as well as support to transport operators at government level will promote business initiatives and attract private investments into transport infrastructure, including construction of new transport-logistic centres, participants heard.
TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) is an international transport cooperation programme between the EU and its Partner countries in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. It has a permanent Secretariat in Baku, Azerbaijan. The cooperation framework covers the areas of maritime transport, aviation, road and rail, transport security and transport infrastructure.
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