Georgian Deputy Economy Minister highlights strategic role of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway

The new Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway has been added to Georgia’s transport network, said on Tuesday Tamar Ioseliani, Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development.

Ioseliani commented on the official launch of the railway line, for which a ceremonial event is scheduled on Tuesday, stressing that the project is a joint strategic initiative of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey that connects Europe with Asia and strengthens the region’s transport capacity.

In her remarks, the Deputy Minister further noted that the launch marked an important and symbolic day not only for Georgia but for the entire region, “which is gaining new railway infrastructure”.

“This transport corridor has been operating in test mode since 2017, and cargo transportation volumes have been steadily increasing. We are confident that through joint efforts we will be able to fully utilise the railway’s capacity. Extensive work has been carried out to reconstruct and rehabilitate the Marabda-Kartsakhi railway section. Numerous large-scale initiatives have been implemented over the years, and I would particularly highlight the work completed during the past year”, she said.

“It is noteworthy that during the Prime Minister’s visit to Baku in May this year, a protocol of the Joint Coordination Council was signed, paving the way for the new railway line to enter full-scale operation”, Ioseliani continued.

The Deputy Minister added that the railway’s projected capacity is approximately 5 million tonnes annually.
She expressed confidence that coordinated efforts among the participating countries would help attract additional cargo and ensure the line’s full utilisation.