During visit in Baku, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Julius Skačkauskas together with the delegation of the President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda discussed co-operation in the fields of logistics and freight transport by road, rail and air with the Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan Rashad Nabiyev. In order to develop economic relations and improve communication between the two countries, an agreement on international road transport was signed during the visit.

“We appreciate the strengthening economic ties between Lithuania and Azerbaijan. We are partners in the field of transport and logistics, therefore, we hope that the agreement of the countries on international road transport will encourage even more active bilateral cooperation and partnership of road transport companies. Lithuanian railways and the port of Klaipėda could ensure the communication for Azerbaijan’s cargo and become the gateway to the South Caucasus region to Europe,” said Deputy Minister Skačkauskas.

On the basis of this agreement on international road transport, it is planned to mutually develop the transport of passengers by bus and transport of goods by trucks between Lithuania and Azerbaijan in transit through the territories of the countries, as well as to and from the third countries.

The agreement also sets out specific conditions for cooperation. For example, road vehicles registered in the territory of one of the countries carrying passengers or goods which have temporarily entered the territory of the other country, as well as the fuel contained therein, will be exempt from customs duties and taxes to the extent permitted by the national legislation valid on the territory of the host country.

During the meetings with the representatives of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan and the transport and logistics sector the Deputy Minister Skačkauskas also invited Azerbaijan to develop direct air connections between Vilnius and Baku, and to establish cooperation in the field of railway and maritime transport.

It was noted that in the current geopolitical context, the development of the Trans-Caspian Railway corridor connecting China, Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Turkey with Western Europe and the Scandinavian countries is of particular interest.

The European-gauge railway line Rail Baltica, which is being built through the Baltic States, also offers new opportunities – regular cargo flows are already running from Kaunas Intermodal Terminal to the Benelux countries and North-West Germany. A new direction to Northern Italy is planned to open this year.

In addition, as a member of the European Union, Lithuania strongly supports the development of the Trans-European Transport Network TEN-T into the transport network of the Eastern Partnership countries.