Georgia has called for the resumption of passenger rail service between Georgia and Azerbaijan, highlighting the move as a key step toward strengthening economic and tourism ties between the two nations.
According to Report, the proposal was made by Mariam Kvrivishvili, Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, during her official visit to Baku where she met with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev.
“Georgia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners and close neighbors. Reviving passenger rail transport will significantly enhance connectivity and contribute to broader economic cooperation,” said Kvrivishvili.
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She noted that the initiative would support not just the transportation sector, but also broader efforts to foster regional tourism and people-to-people exchange.
Focus on Infrastructure and Regional Integration
Kvrivishvili also briefed her Azerbaijani counterparts on Georgia’s ongoing work to modernize its transport infrastructure and align its regulatory framework with international standards.
Georgia, she noted, continues to deepen its integration into both regional and global transport networks. Key infrastructure projects under development include:
Expansion of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway
Construction of the Anaklia deep-sea port, scheduled for completion by 2028–2029
A new international airport in Tbilisi
Boosting Innovation and Digital Cooperation
Beyond transport, the two sides also discussed enhancing cooperation in telecommunications, innovation, and information technologies, including joint initiatives aimed at showcasing the region’s innovation potential on the global stage.
The Georgian delegation included Deputy Ministers Guram Guramishvili and Gennadi Arveladze, as well as Ambassador Zurab Pataradze.
The revival of passenger rail services would mark a major step toward improving cross-border mobility and could play a vital role in strengthening the Middle Corridor as a reliable East-West transit route.
