Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Lithuania, Logistics, Railways, Transport

Photo: transp.lt

“As you know, Lithuania has a well developed transportation infrastructure and logistics network. Therefore, it can provide solutions for safe, quick transportation of goods to Scandinavia and West European countries at highly favorable prices”, said Minister Rimantas Sinkevicius.

Rimantas Sinkevicius underlined that over the last eight months, the transit of goods between Lithuania and Azerbaijan increased by 42% compared to the same period in 2013. Most of which consisted of food products. In recent years, the port of Klaipeda and JSC Lithuanian Railways, well connected and equipped with modernized infrastructure, are ready to offer transport, cargo handling and storage services at competitive rates.

In order to improve freight transportation conditions, Lithuania invited Azerbaijan to contribute to the development of the Baltic Sea-Black Sea corridor and the joint project of Lithuanian, Belarusian and Ukrainian railways – container train Viking. Moldavian, Romanian and Bulgarian railway companies are already participating in the project and pilot train on a new route from Lithuania through Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and Romania to Turkey will be launched this year. Considering the current Viking route, Azerbaijan could be connected to the network via ports of Poti and Batumi in Georgia, as well as overland routes passing Turkey and Georgia.

Minister Rimantas Sinkevicius invited companies from Azerbaijan to invest and participate in the establishment of public logistic centres, set up companies in free economic zone in Klaipėda and use the possibilities Lithuania can offer in developing economic relationship with the EU Members.

Conjointly, the meeting focused on the possibilities of opening direct flights between Baku and Vilnius. “Lithuania is interested in expanding direct flights’ routes, therefore, the new route Vilnius-Baku represents a priority direction”, – said Rimantas Sinkevicius. The minister also called on to consider possible new routes from Azerbaijan to Europe and North America.

In the field of information and communication technology, Lithuania offered to share its experience and expertise in developing the broadband internet connection that reduces the urban-rural divide, cooperate in the development of public e-services, share information and implement joint programs or projects. Likewise, Lithuania supports Azerbaijan project to link 20 countries from Hong Kong to Frankfurt TASIM (Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway).

In order to promote cooperation in the field of transport, the countries agreed to establish a joint working group. Further development of cooperation in transport field will be discussed at Azerbaijan-Lithuania Intergovernmental Commission meeting to be held in Shamkir (Azerbaijan).