This train will deliver Ukrainian commodities to Central Asian countries bypassing Russia, which has banned transit shipments from Ukraine / Photo from UNIAN
Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a protocol on setting competitive, reduced rates for freight shipments by the Trans-Caspian international transport route, according to Azerbaijan's News Agency Trend.
The protocol was signed in Baku on Thursday by the heads of the four countries' railways operators: Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways' Board Javid Gurbanov, Chairman and President of JSC National Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Askar Mamin, CEO of JSC Georgian Railway Mamuka Bakhtadze and acting Chairman of OJSC Ukrainian Railways Oleksandr Zavhorodniy, the Trend wrote.
The official signing ceremony was also attended by Director General of Baku International Sea Trade Port Taleh Ziyadov and CEO of JSC Azerbaijan State Caspian Shipping Company Rauf Valiyev.
The document foresees the introduction of competitive, reduced fares for freight shipments by the Trans-Caspian international transport route and an increase in freight turnover.
A similar bilateral protocol was signed by Azerbaijan and Georgia.
As UNIAN reported, a freight train heading from Ukraine for China via Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan is to depart from the Ukrainian port city of Illichivsk in Odesa region on Friday, January 15.
This train will deliver Ukrainian commodities to Central Asian countries bypassing Russia, which has banned transit shipments from Ukraine.