Connecting economies through ports and air freight connectivity

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Middle Corridor, an emerging transit route that stretches through Central Eurasia, connects economies in Central Asia, South Caucasus and Eastern Europe. Azerbaijan’s key geographical location coupled with well-developed logistics infrastructure, including but not limited to state-of-art port and air cargo facilities play enabling role for transiting goods and services between Europe and Asia.

The United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) jointly present a discussion and networking platform for executives and professionals from air cargo and port industries to exchange views and expertise. “Middle Corridor: Connecting economies through ports and air freight connectivity” is an industry-based conference that will discuss air cargo connectivity and port development in Azerbaijan. This platform will allow importers, exporters, shippers, consignees, freight forwarders, and many other industry players to exchange ideas and discuss matters of their immediate needs.

Air cargo segment

The lasting effects of the global pandemic, unprecedented workforce shortage coupled with increasing customer demand, have made the global supply chains volatile, reshaping many logistics operations globally. According to research conducted by Logistyx Technologies in 2021, 57% of customers in the US, UK, and Germany made cross-border purchases during the pandemic. Since this trend is set to go up in the future, it raises questions about whether global freight forwarders will be ready to keep up with e-commerce surges.

Presented by SilkWay West Airlines and the Boeing Corporation, topics of the air cargo segment, among others, will include the role of direct cargo flights in trade facilitation, the changing logistics landscape, effects on service quality, and how to best serve the needs of shippers, consolidators, and freight forwarders, etc.

This segment will:

Present updates on the regional and global air cargo industry in the post-COVID era

Discuss best customer service practices

Discuss best air cargo carrier strategies to meet the increasing needs for global deliveries

Port industry segment

This project will provide options to identify and optimize international and domestic gateways and provide a roadmap for the region to regain its historical significance for trade and transit, especially with Central West Asia and as a bridge to Europe. Middle Corridor serves to increase freight traffic from China to European countries and in the reverse direction. The block train running along this corridor delivers cargo from China to Europe in an average of 20-25 days. This is one of the main advantages of the transport corridor. The port industry segment will be presented by Baku International Sea Trade Port. The Port of Baku is in Alat (a township 70 km south of Baku), at the crossroads of two major transportation corridors – East-West and North-South. It is also where Azerbaijan’s main railway and highway networks converge, facilitating the implementation of the vision of the port as a grand hub – becoming key to regional and global supply chains. The Port of Baku serves as a major intermodal distribution hub but will also employ an integrated development model that involves port activities, bonded zone, the Alat township, and various transport and non-transport projects.

Following the completion of the first phase of development in 2018, the Port of Baku has a total throughput capacity of 15 million tons of general cargo, including 100,000 TEU in containers. The Port of Baku development is projected in 2 phases: The first phase comprises a ferry terminal, Ro-Ro berths, general cargo berths, a service berth, railway lines, an administrative building, customs holding area, an open storage yard, warehouses, a container yard, rail and road access to berths, Ro-Ro ramps, a heavy lift landing area, and truck amenities area. The completion of the first phase of development means that all intermodal operations are carried out at the Port of Baku.

With the realization of the second phase of development, the total throughput capacity of the Port of Baku will increase to 25 million tons of general cargo, including 500.000 TEU in containers.

This segment will: