Today, Karabakh and East Zangazur are once again becoming an important regional connectivity hub thanks to the development of the East-West and North-South international transport corridors, said Vahid Hajiyev, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for the Jabrayil, Gubadli and Zangilan districts, during the panel session on “Urbicide and its consequences” organized by UNDP within the framework of WUF13, APA reports.
He noted that historically these territories were located along the Silk Road and played an important bridge role between Europe and Asia: “Today, Karabakh and East Zangazur are once again becoming a major regional connectivity hub thanks to the development of the East-West and North-South international transport corridors. The Zangazur corridor will not only restore direct land connectivity between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, but will also serve as a key strategic link connecting the East-West and North-South international transport corridors. Following Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Karabakh War, large-scale work was launched toward the implementation of this project. Construction of all highways has already been completed, and railway construction has also been finalized. In parallel, construction of the bridge over the Araz River connecting Azerbaijan with Iran is nearing completion, and this bridge will become an important element of regional transport and logistics operations. The completion of the Zangazur corridor will enable the formation of a circular railway network in the region and increase Azerbaijan’s annual cargo transportation capacity by approximately 50 million tons. At the same time, the already operational Zangilan International Airport supports the region’s logistics potential by increasing cargo mobility, connectivity, and accessibility for investors. One of the most interesting points is that even before the corridor becomes fully operational, there is already significant interest from logistics and industrial companies. Investors clearly understand the strategic importance of this route and the economic opportunities it will create. We believe that this corridor will stimulate the expansion of trade, logistics, and tourism, as well as create thousands of new jobs.”
