The “1520 area” infrastructure complex: resources and prospects for development in the Caucasus region, the interaction of sea and rail transport as part of the North – South corridor, experience in planning and construction in difficult mountainous conditions – all these issues were discussed during round-table meetings organized in Baku as part of the International Regional Business Forum “1520 Strategic Partnership: the Caucasus Region”.

During the “Infrastructure” round table, Valery Reshetnikov, senior vice president of Russian Railways, noted that ferry transport on the Caspian is currently in operation between Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and work is already underway to organize it on routes between the ports of Makhachkala and Amirabad and also between Olya and Amirabad. According to Reshetnikov, Russian Railways is not only working on organizing rail transport management, but is also involved in organizing the work of ports, which will enable it to coordinate the work of these two types of transport, and to simplify and accelerate the process of freight transportation.

Alexander Khrapaty, the head of the Volga Railway, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, noted the potential of developing the North – South corridor by utilizing sea transport across the Caspian between Russian ports and the port of Amirabad. In his view, the ports located on the Caspian have the opportunity of improving their own infrastructure so that they can handle the volumes of freight envisaged for the North – South transport corridor.

Yuri Ladygin and Shahin Bagirov, representing the Russian and Azerbaijani customs services, told the round table participants about the work being done in the area of accelerating customs processing of freight, both in ports and at customs check points.

The Forum participants were also actively involved in the work of two other round tables: “Infrastructure” and “Technologies”. In particular, the participants in the “Infrastructure” round table discussed and examined the key priorities in the development of an infrastructure and technological platform for transport services, mechanisms and institutions for coordinating joint work in developing the transport infrastructure of the North – South corridor, plans to organize infrastructure restrictions with the aim of implementing new transit routes, and also the development of the regional port and terminal infrastructure.

The level of complexity in planning infrastructure projects for mountainous conditions, the specific issues of combined routes with high throughput capacity, the practice of centralized management of major transport projects and optimizing expenditure on them, the selection of technologies with regard to mining and geological conditions and length in the construction of tunnels – these issues were the topic of discussion for the participants in the “Technologies” round table.

One of the most important elements in organizing the transport process – organizing the provision of logistics services – was the topic of the “Logistics” business dialogue.

When the round tables had concluded their work the forum’s official closing ceremony took place. During the closing ceremony the moderators of the round tables acquainted the forum participants with the results of the sessions and the work of the forum as a whole. The head of Azerbaijan Railways and Vadim Morozov, first vice president of Russian Railways, who also took part in the closing ceremony of the International Regional Business Forum “1520 Strategic Partnership: the Caucasus Region”, thanked the event’s guests and participants, and also the organizers, Business Dialogue, for their excellent work over the two days of the forum’s work.

The next event in the “1520 Strategic Partnership” series will take place, in what is now a tradition, in May 2011 in Sochi.

We look forward to seeing you in Sochi!