Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are pressing ahead with plans to establish a joint fleet on the Caspian Sea.
The development was confirmed by Khurram Teshabayev, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, in an interview with the Report news agency.
According to him, negotiations are also under way within the project framework to create a joint venture in maritime logistics between Uzbekistan's Uztemiryulkargo company and Azerbaijan's Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO).
The deputy minister stated that the initiative's primary goals are to organise freight transportation more efficiently, reduce logistics costs, and expand the export potential of both countries.
In addition, discussions are ongoing regarding the introduction of additional privileges for Uzbek exporters at the Port of Baku. These include discounts on cargo handling services, the development of more favourable tariffs, simplification of logistics procedures, and priority treatment for container cargo.
Khurram Teshabayev noted that in recent years the volume of freight transported along the Middle Corridor has been steadily growing, the range of goods carried has been expanding, and cooperation between logistics companies of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan has been deepening.
He emphasised that the Port of Baku holds strategic importance as a gateway for Uzbek goods to international markets via the Middle Corridor.
According to the deputy minister, further development of cooperation in transport and logistics will make a significant contribution to increasing trade turnover between the two countries, strengthening the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor, and expanding the region's overall transit capacity.