Georgia and Azerbaijan have taken a new step toward strengthening regional rail connectivity, following a high-level meeting focused on expanding cooperation in railway transportation and logistics.
Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Tamar Ioseliani and General Director of Georgian Railways Lasha Abashidze met with Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways, to discuss joint efforts to increase the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor and attracting additional cargo flows through the South Caucasus.
The talks pointed to the strategic importance of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway, whose official launch is expected to play a big role in increasing freight volumes and enhancing regional transit efficiency. Particular attention was paid to the Marabda–Kartsakhi section of the railway where Georgian Railways will hold exclusive rights to conduct freight transportation.
The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development stated that this arrangement is seen as a major achievement for the development of national railway infrastructure and for deepening economic cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan. It is also expected to reinforce Georgia’s role as a transit hub and strengthen its logistics potential within the broader regional transport network.
Following the meeting, Georgian Railways General Director Lasha Abashidze, together with BTKI Railways LLC General Directors Levan Kankava and Mikael Abasov, formally signed an agreement granting Georgian Railways exclusive freight transportation rights on the Marabda–Kartsakhi railway section.
