Baku, May 10, AZERTAC

European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn has affirmed the EU`s support for the Port of Baku.

“Azerbaijan is very well-placed to play a key role in linking Europe and Asia and the European Union will continue to support the Port of Baku in becoming an international logistics and trade hub,” said Hahn as he addressed the Baku-hosted conference of the International Association of Ports and Harbors through video conferencing.

“Connectivity is one of the key 20 Deliverables for 2020. That we endorsed that Eastern Partnership Summit last November, it is a crucial factor for economic development and brings all people closer to each other, making our societies stronger and creating opportunities for sharing experience. At the summit, the European Union pledged 150-million-euro grand assistance up to 2020 for the extension of the core TEN-T network, leveraging more than one billion euro of investments in a few of implementing a long-term investment plan. We also support so our technical assistance programs, work on the necessary legal and institutional reforms aimed at the safe, secure, environmental friendly and market driven transport system. We invest in the necessary infrastructure in close cooperation with international financial institutions such as EBRD and EIB. The guarantee mechanism under the new external investment plan plays a key role in a directing private sector investment,” he said.

“In all these efforts, we should not lose sight of key cross-cutting aspects. I welcome the inclusion of the gender, multiculturalism and green shipping and logistics in the agenda of the event. The European Union’s primary focus has always been to bring tangible results for our citizens in the framework of 20 Deliverables for 2020. Human capital and people’s engagement is key to take into the benefits that our cooperation area of transport bring by encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation,” Hahn added.