(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 19. The Azerbaijani
government is conducting the construction of a strategically
important integrated transport infrastructure aimed at supporting
the development and reintegration of liberated lands, as part of
the 'First state program on the Great Return to Azerbaijan's
liberated territories', trend reports.
From 2022 through 2023, the State Agency of Azerbaijan
Automobile Roads will continue the construction of the
Talish-Tapgaragoyunlu-Gashalti sanatorium highway, the
Barda-Aghdam, Gubadli-Eyvazli, Gubadli-Mahmudlu-Yazduzu-Armenian
border, Hadrut-Tugh-Azykh cave, Khudafarin-Gubadli-Lachin,
Horadiz-Jabrayil-Zangilan-Aghband highway link with Iran, as well
as the construction of bridges along the Araz River and internal
roads of Kalbajar and Lachin districts. The country is expected to
build internal roads in Aghdam city and establish facilities
providing vehicle maintenance in Karabakh.
In addition, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport
will identify places for the construction of bus stations and taxi
ranks, and organize regular international, intercity
(inter-district) and intra-city (intra-district) road passenger
transport.
Within the program, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) CJSC will
commission the Lachin International Airport by 2024. Meantime,
Azerbaijan Railways CJSC is supposed to build the Barda-Aghdam and
Horadiz-Aghband railway lines by the end of 2023 and conduct the
reconstruction of the railway infrastructure, as well as the
construction of new railway lines and stations by the end of
2026.
Economist Emin Garibli told Trend that Karabakh and East
Zangazur are among the regions with great transport and transit
potential.
'International transport corridors will run through the
liberated territories that will link Asia with Europe. Already
today we see great interest in the Zangazur corridor. Connecting
East and West through Azerbaijan's territory will reduce transport
costs and make this route shorter. The infrastructure of
international importance will also accelerate Azerbaijan's
integration into the world economy, and provide more employment in
the mentioned area. The construction of airports, roads, and
railways creates an additional favorable investment climate. It's
crucial for the Zangazur corridor to function for the entire world
economy, including for Azerbaijan. I believe the return of former
refugees to their homes, as well as the implementation of other
projects that are critical for the region's future population, will
contribute to the corridor's soonest launch,' he added.
Garibli underscored Karabakh's rich natural resources and
construction of hydroelectric power stations, as well as other
infrastructure facilities in the liberated territories.
'All the Karabakh projects implemented within the 'Great Return'
give grounds to talk about future high employment in this region,'
he added.
In the first half of 2022, Azerbaijan's income from transport
services amounted to $1.3 billion, out of which $1.2 billion came
from cargo traffic.
Large-scale projects on transport infrastructure construction
have turned the country into an international transport and
logistics center and provide new opportunities for increasing trade
and economic activity. The development of transport networks will
lead to huge economic growth not only for Azerbaijan but also for
neighboring countries. It is also worth noting that the transport
network in Azerbaijan is closely connected and complementary to
other routes and corridors that have a significant impact on
international trade development and the creation of a new supply
chain.
The Zangazur corridor's role is of utmost necessity in this
regard. This corridor will reduce the time for freight
transshipment from China to Europe to two weeks, and open new
markets for Azerbaijan, including transit to Africa. The cost of
transporting goods is also expected to be cut.
Azerbaijan continues investing in transport infrastructure,
particularly in Karabakh's roads and railways, and is rebuilding
the region's historic ties by linking northern transport networks
with southern and eastern ones.