BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. Documents signed
on August 22 between Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan open
new opportunities for regional integration and the development of
transport and logistics corridors, Bakhtiyor Ergashev, an Uzbek
expert and political scientist, director of the Center for Research
Initiatives “Ma’no”, told Trend.
According to him, the main political significance of the summit
of the three countries’ presidents lies in connecting two key
regions – the South Caucasus and Central Asia – through the
potential of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
“They are combining their potentials, addressing accumulated
problems, and defining the prospects for cooperation. It is
impossible to deepen cooperation without taking steps toward
synchronizing the activities of economic agents, the economic
entities of the countries, creating conditions for collaboration,
partnership, and increasing foreign economic turnover between the
countries of the region. This provides serious positive
expectations and is inspiring,” Ergashev noted.
The expert emphasized that the countries of Central Asia and the
South Caucasus are interested in establishing and strengthening
transport and logistics cooperation, as these regions are expected
to become a bridge connecting the Eurasian space and linking major
cargo-generating centers such as China, India, and the European
Union.
He also explained that the meeting in Turkmenbashi is aimed at
finding practical solutions to institutional, administrative, and
infrastructural problems, such as the absence of a unified
coordinating center, lack of an operational system for information
exchange between ports, complicated customs procedures, shortage of
ferries, and bottlenecks in railway infrastructure.
According to him, agreements on joint activities in aviation and
shipbuilding address concrete practical tasks, including the
creation of container ship and ferry fleets between the shores of
the Caspian Sea.
“There are statements that due to the shortage of container
ships and ferries operating between ports on the Caspian Sea,
Uzbekistan has decided to create its own fleet to ensure more
efficient cargo transportation between the two shores of the
Caspian. In this matter, Uzbekistan intends to cooperate with both
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in the construction of such vessels.
Uzbekistan is already concluding negotiations on the types,
capacities, and volumes of ships to be built and operated on the
Caspian Sea routes. Shipbuilding plans between the countries exist,
are being discussed, and should lead to positive results to
increase maritime transport capacity,” Ergashev said.
The expert stressed that establishing sister-city relationships
between Fuzuli and Arkadag contributes to the development of
humanitarian cooperation, educational and cultural exchanges, and
strengthening ties between regional communities.
“We need to develop the track of humanitarian cooperation and
exchanges. And the sister-city format is an old, well-tested, and
effective way to strengthen cooperation between countries, cities,
and communities. Work at this municipal level will, of course,
promote the development of regional ties,” he added.
Regarding financial interaction, Ergashev noted the importance
of the agreement on cooperation between exchanges.
“Commodity and raw material exchanges in each country of the
region are largely key organizations. The stronger their ties, the
clearer the relationships between exchanges, and the more
opportunities they open for each other, the greater the boost to
foreign trade between the countries. If operational and effective
cooperation is established, we will have the opportunity to
increase trade turnover. This is a very important practical step,
which can be measured and observed in the process of deepening
foreign trade cooperation between the three countries,” the expert
emphasized.
The political analyst stressed that the successful
implementation of multilateral transport and logistics initiatives
requires strengthened institutional coordination, reduced
administrative and procedural barriers, infrastructure development,
and consideration of climate changes affecting Caspian Sea cargo
flows.
“The signing of agreements and the leaders’ meetings are
indicators that each country understands these tasks and is ready
to combine efforts to ensure synergy and increase the efficiency of
the trans-Caspian route,” concluded Bakhtiyor Ergashev.