Kazakhstan sends first wheat shipment to Armenia via Azerbaijan PHOTO / VIDEO

The first shipment of food-grade wheat from Kazakhstan is being sent to the Republic of Armenia in transit through the territory of Azerbaijan, Kazinform reports, citing the press service of the National Company “Food Contract Corporation” JSC.

This step comes as a result of the agreements reached between Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ilham Aliyev, announced on 21 October in Astana.

An official decision to lift restrictions on cargo transit toward Yerevan has opened the way for a new railway route connecting Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia, the outlet notes.

Today, the train carrying Kazakh wheat crossed the Azerbaijani border. In the coming days, the shipment will arrive at the Dalarik station in Armenia. In total, 15 wagons with a combined weight of 1,000 tonnes have been dispatched from Kazakhstan. The delivery is considered a pilot shipment aimed at testing the new logistics route.

As part of a working visit to Baku, the management of the National Company “Food Contract Corporation” JSC (Prodcorporation) held a meeting with representatives of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan. The parties are jointly coordinating the transit of the cargo and ensuring its delivery to Armenian partners.

“In recent months, we have observed a steady positive trend in cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in the grain supply sector. This year, Kazakhstan has become the main supplier of wheat to the Azerbaijani market — according to the latest data, our share amounts to around 80 percent. During the state visit of President Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev to Astana, the heads of our states particularly emphasised the achieved results and expressed their mutual desire to consolidate this success and further expand cooperation in the future,” said Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Alim Bayel.

Chairman of the Board of the National Company “Food Contract Corporation” JSC, Asylkhan Dzhumashov, emphasised that the opening of the new transit route is significant not only for expanding the export geography of Kazakh grain but also for developing transport and logistics links among the countries of the region.

“This also contributes to strengthening trade and economic cooperation and to advancing peace initiatives in the South Caucasus,” noted Asylkhan Dzhumashov.

The National Company “Food Contract Corporation” JSC is Kazakhstan’s national operator of the grain market. The company ensures food security, stabilises the domestic market, supports agricultural producers, and implements state agricultural policy.

Earlier, it was reported that Kazakhstan had proposed expanding its export portfolio with Azerbaijan to include a wide range of agro-industrial products.

In addition to the South Caucasus countries, Kazakhstan has this year begun exporting grain to Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

By Vugar Khalilov