President Ilham Aliyev called upon the member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to actively use the transport corridors passing through Azerbaijan.

“We attach particular importance to strengthening the economic cooperation among the OECD member states. The increase in bilateral trade and investment, the expansion of export opportunities and encouraging closer cooperation among the business circles will serve this purpose “, – Ilham Aliyev said at the XIII Summit of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Pakistan.

According to him, the cooperation in the transport sector is of great significance for Azerbaijan.

“The establishment of a strategic railway connection between Europe and Asia through Azerbaijan will reduce the time required for the transportation of goods from 30 to 15 days. The East-West transport corridor means the restoration of the historic Silk Road. Another important transport project is the North-South railway corridor. Azerbaijan is an active participant and investor of both strategic projects. We call upon the OECD countries to use these new infrastructural capacities”, – he said.

The President emphasized that the largest International Sea Trade Port in the Caspian Sea, currently under construction in Azerbaijan, will also be a contribution to the transport infrastructure.

Ilham Aliyev added that the energy cooperation plays a significant role in regional cooperation:

“Azerbaijan has proposed a new energy strategy and a new perspective on energy cooperation, and has become an important partner in ensuring the energy security of the wider region. We have created a diversified pipeline infrastructure connecting the Caspian, Black and Mediterranean seas. Today, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline are the symbols of regional cooperation. “

The Head of State noted that currently Azerbaijan, together with foreign partners, implements the “Southern Gas Corridor” project valued at $ 40 billion, “This is an energy cooperation and energy security project. The transport and energy projects in the region that I have noted, create tens of thousands of jobs. These projects bring prosperity, strengthen friendship and cooperation among the countries “, – the president added.

Source Minval.az