Azerbaijan targets major expansion of Baku Port capacity

An international conference titled "The Role of Ports in Regional Connectivity and Strategic Cooperation" was held in Baku today within the framework of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

According to Report, citing Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), the conference, organized by Baku International Sea Trade Port, brought together port executives and transport and logistics representatives from across Asia to discuss regional connectivity, cooperation between ports and the exchange of experience.

Speaking at the opening, ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov said Azerbaijan's strategic location linking Europe and Asia strengthens its role in regional transport and logistics.

He said the integration of Baku Port into ADY, along with sustainable infrastructure projects, is improving freight efficiency and expanding transit capacity.

"This approach removes barriers between rail and maritime transport, shortens coordination processes, strengthens cooperation and enables faster cargo movement," Rustamov said.

He added that Baku Port is working to significantly expand its container-handling capacity.

"The port was originally designed to handle 100,000 TEU annually. Following the integration last year, we increased this to 150,000 TEU through greater operational efficiency. By the end of this year, capacity will reach 200,000 TEU. Our target is to raise it to around 300,000 TEU by the end of 2027," he said.

Rustamov noted that the increase would also contribute to the overall capacity of the Middle Corridor.

He added that declining water levels in the Caspian Sea and challenges affecting global trade routes have increased the importance of regional cooperation, making the CICA port conference an important platform for developing joint solutions.

CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay also highlighted the role of ports in improving the efficiency of operations along the Middle Corridor and stressed the importance of such events in deepening cooperation.

The conference continued with two sessions, titled "Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships" and "The Importance of Ports and Multimodal Connectivity," as well as a roundtable discussion.

Participants discussed regional cooperation, sustainable partnerships, the efficient organization of cargo flows and the integration of maritime, rail and road transport.

They also exchanged views on strengthening transport opportunities for landlocked countries through the Middle Corridor, the existing capacity of ports and prospects for developing cargo flows across Asia.

It was noted that Baku Port is attracting growing attention as a key link in regional freight operations. The port handled a record 107,000 TEU of containers and more than 8 million tons of cargo last year.

Bilateral meetings were also held between port authorities from CICA member states, focusing on strategic cooperation between ports. A joint final document was adopted following the discussions.

On the second day of the conference, participants will visit Baku International Sea Trade Port to inspect its General Cargo, Ferry and Ro-Ro terminals and attend presentations on the port's digital systems.