Minister Pekcan: Baku Tbilisi Kars Railway Train Flights Can Be Increased

Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said, “(New types of coronavirus cases) We had to close our Iranian door when the events in Iran got a little out of control. In fact, Iran is our export route to Central Asia, but we are in contact with Georgia now. We just came from Azerbaijan. We increased the capacities of our Sarp Border Gate, Türkgözü and Çıldır Aktaş gate over Georgia. ” said.

Pekcan visited the Öncüpınar Customs Gate in Kilis and received a briefing from the relevant parties in the meeting room.

Minister Pekcan later told reporters that during his contacts in Kilis, his party would join his party's Political Academy program, and then they would come together with tradesmen and business people at the provincial coordination board to listen to demands and problems.

Explaining that he has visited the Öncüpınar Customs Gate and identified the needs and deficiencies on the spot, Pekcan stated that they will fill the deficiencies as soon as possible.

Pekcan, on a journalist's question about the importance of new types of coronavirus at the border gates, said, “We have a working group on this in the cabinet, together with the relevant ministries. We take all kinds of precautions and security measures at our doors. Especially at our priority risky doors, whether there is a mask, gloves, disinfectant… ”

Explaining that they have disinfected all the gates, especially Iranian border gates, Pekcan continued as follows:

“When the events in Iran got a little out of control, we had to close our Iranian door. In fact, Iran is our export route to Central Asia, but we are in contact with Georgia now. We just came from Azerbaijan. We increased the capacities of our Sarp Border Gate, Türkgözü and Çıldır Aktaş gate over Georgia. We made illumination at our steep door, and now they are able to make controls, including agricultural products, 24 hours a day. We can go up to 500 vehicles daily at our Aktaş gate. Currently there are 200 vehicles, but we will be able to increase it to 500. Therefore, we can close the gap we have made from Iran here. Apart from that, we have the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. This line runs 1 train and 40 wagons a day. We can increase this to 60 wagon. I also met with our Minister of Transport and Infrastructure. If necessary, we can extend this line up to 7 train-days. Therefore, as long as our exporters want us, we will remove all the obstacles for them, including quotas in this transition period, in this process. ”