Uzbekistan may join railway project linking Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan to Türkiye

Uzbekistan is considering participating in the construction of the railway linking Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan to Türkiye, which would provide access to the Turkish ports of Samsun and Istanbul.

The issue was raised during a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to discuss the implementation of major transport and logistics projects, Caliber.Az reports via the Uzbek presidential press service.

The meeting included a presentation on the development of logistics infrastructure involving Uzbekistan at the Caspian Sea ports of Aktau, Turkmenbashi and Baku, as well as at the Black Sea ports of Poti and Anaklia. In particular, an agreement has been signed to establish a logistics centre at the port of Poti, and a feasibility study for the project is being developed.

“Opportunities for [Uzbekistan’s] participation in the development of the Anaklia port [in Georgia], as well as in the construction of the Nakhchivan railway, which will provide access to Turkey’s Samsun and Istanbul ports, are also being studied,” the statement said.

The implementation of these projects is expected to diversify routes for delivering Uzbek textile, chemical, agricultural and mining and metallurgical products to international markets.

“By 2030, it is planned to double the volume of transport services, attract $9.1 billion in investment to the sector and increase service exports to $5.7 billion,” the statement added.

The meeting also reviewed projects for the construction and modernisation of airports. New airport complexes with a combined cost of nearly $3 billion are currently under construction in Tashkent and Bukhara.

Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of clearly defining project implementation timelines, funding sources and expected outcomes. Relevant officials were given corresponding instructions.

By Jeyhun Aghazada