Elyor Ganyiev: Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway is an Important Corridor Connecting Central Asia, Caucasus and Europe

Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Elyor Ganiev spoke about the role of Georgia’s transport corridor and the importance of the reforms implemented in Georgia. Speaking at the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum Panel, Elyor Ganiev said that Uzbekistan plans to study the reforms that led Georgia to success.

“It is very important to study Georgia’s experience. This country is exemplary in many directions. Effective reforms have been implemented in Georgia and we will try to share some of them. Georgia has made tremendous progress in tourism,” – Elyor Ganiev said.

Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan also talked about the importance of the transit corridors as well: “Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is a new milestone regarding the cooperation in our region. It allows us to form an important transport corridor connecting Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe, and we hope that this corridor will allow us to create completely new conditions for the Great Silk Road development”.

Elyor Ganiev stressed on the role of the Georgian seaports as well: “Georgia is a very important country in terms of transit, with great potential for increased freight flow and it will have a high economic impact on Georgia. The Poti Port is very important for us, it is the closest port to the Black Sea for Uzbekistan. We together with Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and other countries are interested in efficient transport corridors. The Batumi Port has great potential as well as the Anaklia Deep Sea Port. We must use this potential and rebuild the old Silk Road”.

According to Elyor Ganiev, the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum 2017 has encouraged the development of the cooperation between Georgia and Uzbekistan. As a result, the turnover between the two countries is increased by 30%.