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Latvia will launch a pilot service for transportation to the Baltic and Scandinavian countries from Central Asia, counting on connection to the Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) transport corridor. If successful, this could create an alternative transport corridor from Central Asia to Scandinavia.

According to Andris Maldups, Deputy Director of the Latvian Ministry of Transport, the role of the railway in this initiative, especially in relation to long-distance routes, is connected with the development of the Rail Baltica project aimed at integrating the Baltic countries into the European railway network.

Latvian Railways is using every opportunity to find new cargo and create new services, Maldups said. In addition, Latvia can count on reliable ferry services to Stockholm from the port of Ventspils and is planning new ferry services from Liepaja.

The decision was made public during Maldups' visit to Azerbaijan, where he met with TRACECA Secretary General Asset Assavbaev. Assavbaev also shared information on the procedures for obtaining observer status in the Intergovernmental Program Commission, which will allow Latvia to appoint its permanent representative to the IPC.

TRACECA is an interstate transport program involving 12 countries of Central Asia, the Caucasus and Eastern Europe: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, as well as EU member states. The program was first introduced in 1993. The main task of the EU through the European Commission is to finance projects and a permanent secretariat.

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Photo: triniti.eu