BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The Czech
enterprise eyes new alternatives alongside the Center Hall, Minister
of Transport of the Czech Republic Ivan Bednárik stated in an
unique interview with Development forward of his go to to the South Caucasus and
Central Asia.
He identified that the South Caucasus and Central Asia are
changing into more and more necessary in connecting Europe and Asia, and
the Czech Republic can supply experience and applied sciences in rail
transport, logistics, city mobility and civil aviation.
“My go to, accompanied by a enterprise delegation, has a transparent
goal: to strengthen cooperation in transport and logistics and
create new enterprise alternatives for Czech corporations and their
potential companions in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. In all
three international locations, our programme subsequently features a sequence of
ministerial conferences, enterprise boards and conferences with
representatives of state establishments and corporations. Azerbaijan is
a quickly creating nation with a steady political and financial
setting. The chance to put money into such a rustic is welcome
information for any investor,” added the minister.
Bednárik identified that in Azerbaijan, he needs to construct on
the memorandum that Minister Rashad Nabiyev and he signed in Might
this yr and establish concrete steps for cooperation.
“Our priorities are the event of the Trans-Caspian
Transport Hall, the modernisation of railways and concrete
transport, significantly the metro, the event of air
connectivity and the implementation of recent transport
applied sciences,” the minister stated.
Czech perspective on Center Hall
growth
The Czech minister famous that the Center Hall strengthens
the resilience of provide chains between Europe and Asia.
“Azerbaijan is a crucial regional companion for the Czech
Republic. Transport is among the key areas of our cooperation,
significantly within the context of the rising significance of the
Trans-Caspian Worldwide Transport Route, one of many primary
freight routes between Europe and Asia. From the Czech perspective,
this hall is necessary as a result of it broadens our connections with
the area and strengthens the resilience of provide chains between
Europe and Asia. We subsequently wish to strengthen logistics hyperlinks in
this space and open up new alternatives for Czech corporations. In
addition to rail transport and concrete mobility, we’re additionally
excited by alternatives for cooperation in aviation and trendy
transport applied sciences,” Bednárik added.
The minister famous that every one the challenges associated to the Center
Hall in logistics, customs procedures and coordination, are
interconnected and must be addressed comprehensively.
“Nonetheless, I think about eliminating bottlenecks, rushing up
procedures and making certain enough capability at container and
multimodal terminals to be important. We additionally want to enhance
present transport infrastructure, reasonably than counting on a single
mode of transport, and supply different routes for shifting items.
Instruments to facilitate cross-border procedures and enough capability
at multimodal terminals are equally necessary. Logistics and
freight transport will subsequently be among the many topics of my
discussions with Azerbaijani establishments, the EU Delegation in
Baku and representatives of the transport sector,” he
defined.
Bednárik famous that though the significance of the Trans-Caspian
Transport Hall is rising quickly, its additional growth
requires funding in infrastructure, the modernisation of
logistics and customs processes, and nearer cooperation among the many
international locations alongside the whole route.
“This additionally applies to the international locations of the European Union. That
is why, this spring, I initiated a European dialogue on
strengthening the competitiveness of rail freight and enhancing the
coordination of worldwide transport corridors. I’m additionally
working to handle bottlenecks throughout the Czech presidency of the
Worldwide Transport Discussion board (ITF) on the OECD. Making a unified
digital and logistics house with interoperable transport programs
alongside European transport corridors will definitely be a prolonged
course of. It is necessary for the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan to
cooperate and coordinate extra carefully on this space. That is
one thing I wish to emphasise by means of the agenda of my mission and
cooperation involving Czech corporations and researchers,” he
stated.
Transport cooperation past Center
Hall
Bednárik identified that he additionally sees appreciable potential in
city and regional rail transport.
“Czech corporations have experience in railway electrification,
rolling inventory, site visitors administration and trendy technological
options for aviation and rail transport. In addition they supply
complete options for city mobility and air connectivity. We
additionally see promising alternatives in zero-emission applied sciences,
together with hydrogen-powered transport, and in sustainable city
mobility by means of trendy trainsets, metro trains and electrical buses.
This pattern is creating quickly in Europe. For instance, the Czech
firm Škoda Group is certainly one of Europe’s main producers of
battery-powered trains and provides many European international locations. There
are additionally profitable Czech corporations providing applied sciences for city
and suburban bus transport. A key matter for us is the modernisation
of the Baku metro, the place Škoda Group can supply its experience. We
additionally see alternatives in regional electrical a number of models and the
related technical amenities,” stated the Czech minister.
He believes that civil aviation is one other promising space.
“We wish to talk about alternatives to develop direct air hyperlinks
between Baku and Prague, in addition to cooperation in airport
infrastructure, coaching and applied sciences for protected air site visitors
administration. ERA, for instance, might construct on its present
actions in Azerbaijan,” famous Bednárik.
The minister went on so as to add that the Czech aspect sees
appreciable potential for nearer cooperation with Azerbaijan in
rail freight and logistics.
“The CEO of ČD Cargo, the biggest Czech rail freight operator,
shall be becoming a member of me in Baku. The corporate supplies its companies not
solely within the Czech Republic, but additionally in Slovakia, Hungary, Poland,
Austria and Germany. We might additionally welcome discussions with our
Azerbaijani companions on the potential of establishing a joint
logistics operator providing aggressive door-to-door charges,
coordinated multimodal companies and simplified transit procedures,”
he added.
Furthermore, Bednárik identified that Czech rail operators,
together with ČD Cargo and EGT Specific, in addition to related trade
and logistics associations, have intensive expertise in
worldwide freight transport and will contribute to the
growth of built-in logistics companies.
“We additionally see prospects for brand spanking new partnerships in air connectivity
and concrete mobility, which OMNIPOL Group and Škoda Group will
current. The deliberate Czech-Azerbaijani enterprise discussion board, to be held
in Baku on 12 October, will present a great alternative to determine
concrete enterprise contacts,” he concluded.
