ECONOMY
First pilot train via Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to be launched in late 2014

Baku, December 6 (AZERTAC). “The first pilot train via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be launched in late 2014,” said Azerbaijani Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov at a panel discussions during the third Caspian Forum in Istanbul.
“Implementation of the project, which is a logical result of cooperation between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, continues dynamically. After the start of the Marmaray project, launching the BTK will establish direct transport links between Europe and Asia,” Mammadov said.
Mammadov said that the construction of a new international sea trade port is underway in Alat town of Azerbaijan.
"A large logistic center will be built in the territory of the sea trade port. Upon completion of the first phase, transportation capability of the facility will be 10 million tons of cargo and 50,000 large volume containers per year. At subsequent stages, the capacity can increase to 25 million tons of dry cargo and one million tons of containers."