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An information event on the topic “Innovation in railway technologies in Azerbaijan: Partnerships and opportunities for German companies” was held in Baku.
As Day.Az reports with reference to Trend, the event was organized as part of a business trip of a German delegation of entrepreneurs, organized by the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Foreign Trade to Azerbaijan from October 21 to October 25, 2024.
It is noted that during the trip, German companies will receive comprehensive and up-to-date information about the railway technology market in Azerbaijan, applied standards, as well as potential projects and opportunities.
Participants will be able to establish direct business contacts with Azerbaijani companies and specialists in the railway industry, which will facilitate the active exchange of information about German experience.
Representatives of the following companies are taking part in the business trip: Elektro Thermit GmbH & Co KG, HÜBNER GmbH & Co. KG, KATHREIN Solutions GmbH, Schaltbau GmbH, Vagoteq GmbH, WAGNER Rail GmbH.
According to the acting head of the Research and Development Center, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, Orkhan Ahmadzade, Azerbaijan Railways is developing a decarbonization strategy and action plan, which includes investments in environmentally friendly technologies, the use of renewable energy and the modernization of energy-efficient infrastructure.
“Sustainability is a key part of our growth strategy. We are developing a decarbonization strategy and action plan that includes investments in clean technologies, the use of renewable energy and modernization of energy efficient infrastructure. In the future, Azerbaijan Railways plans to expand the use of artificial intelligence, introducing solutions to based on AI to improve safety, efficiency and real-time decision making,” he said.
Artificial intelligence will be used to monitor infrastructure, predict rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance needs, manage train schedules and optimize freight handling, resulting in faster response, better accuracy and more reliable services for businesses, he said.
“Our plans also include investing in training programs for railway employees to ensure that our team is well prepared to work with advanced systems and can provide the best service to businesses. The business climate in Azerbaijan is changing rapidly, and railways are playing central role in the country’s economic transformation,” he added.
In addition, Ahmadzade stated that Azerbaijan Railways is currently working on the implementation of a situation center, which will become a central hub for monitoring and managing railway operations.
He noted that in addition to attracting more cargo, there are several key growth areas that make Azerbaijan’s railway sector attractive to investors.
“First is digitalization. Azerbaijan Railways is undergoing a significant digital transformation, using systems such as automated railway management system to automate operations at stations and commercial operations at border stations. Advanced signaling systems such as microprocessor centralization and digital mobile radio will enable more efficient communication. We are also working on implementing a situation center, which will become a central hub for monitoring and managing railway operations. This center will allow monitoring and control of operations in real time, which will provide faster response to incidents and improve coordination.” , he said.
And Deputy Head of the Business Mission of the German Embassy in Baku, Heiko Schwarz, emphasized that the Middle Corridor has significant potential to become an environmentally friendly transport route with zero emissions.
“Azerbaijan’s role as a key transport hub is steadily increasing. When I arrived in Azerbaijan three and a half years ago, the Middle Corridor was in a state of stagnation. However, political changes in recent years have led to rapid development. Today, this route not only facilitates the movement of goods from China to Europe, but also contributes to the creation of regional value chains. Railways and ports play a central role in these processes,” said Schwartz.
He emphasized that in preparation for COP29, the topic of environmental sustainability is of particular importance, and Azerbaijan, in addition to its role as an energy producer, is actively working to make the Middle Corridor a “green” route that ensures zero emissions, which makes it unique among global transport lines.
Note that the Middle Corridor connects the container rail freight networks of China and the countries of the European Union through the countries of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Turkey and Eastern Europe.
A multilateral multimodal transport infrastructure links ferry terminals of the Caspian and Black Seas with the railway systems of China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine and Poland.
As Anar Hasanov, Chairman of the Board of the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK Azerbaijan), said, Azerbaijan has set an ambitious goal – to increase the volume of cargo transportation to 30 million tons per year by 2030.
According to him, significant progress has already been achieved and this year the share of railway transport in Azerbaijan’s GDP increased from 5.4% to 7%.
“Railways remain one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport, which is of particular importance on the eve of COP29, when issues of sustainable development come to the fore. Azerbaijan’s geographical location makes it a key node on the global North-South and East-West transport corridors,” noted Hasanov.
Azerbaijan has achieved record levels in cargo transportation, transporting about 18-19 million tons of cargo last year alone, and the goal is to increase this figure to 30 million tons by the end of 2030, he added.