Azerbaijan, Türkiye collaborate to enhance border checkpoint capacity

Representatives from Azerbaijan's Land Transport Agency and State Customs Committee have conducted site visits to the Sadarak border checkpoint in Azerbaijan and the Dilucu checkpoint in Türkiye.

The visits aimed to evaluate the operational procedures and explore ways to improve capacity and efficiency at these key border crossings, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

According to the Agency, the delegation reviewed the process for receiving cargo vehicles, managing queues, inspecting goods, and processing documents. The use of advanced technologies, such as AI-based vehicle recognition algorithms integrated with an automated risk analysis system, was highlighted as a key factor enabling faster border crossings and streamlined customs procedures through preliminary data processing.

The Sadarak checkpoint was praised for its state-of-the-art infrastructure, which includes six entry and exit lanes providing round-the-clock service. However, discussions with the Turkish delegation underscored the need for infrastructure upgrades at the Dilucu checkpoint. Currently operating with three entry and exit lanes, Dilucu requires improvements to match the capacity of the Sadarak facility. Türkiye confirmed that efforts to expand and modernize the checkpoint would commence shortly.

Officials emphasized that aligning the capacities of the two checkpoints could enable the daily passage of 400–450 cargo vehicles in one direction, significantly boosting trade flow and efficiency.

Both sides acknowledged the critical role of the Sadarak and Dilucu checkpoints in international transportation along the South-West corridor, which connects Europe and Asia. The meetings concluded with an agreement to continue joint efforts to enhance the capacity and operational efficiency of these vital crossings.