Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY), part of AZCON Holding, met with a World Bank delegation led by Charles Cormier, Director of Infrastructure for the Europe and Central Asia Region. The parties reviewed the current state of cooperation between ADY and the World Bank and confirmed their mutual interest in expanding the partnership.
During the talks, particular attention was paid to the World Bank’s possible participation in the second phase of the Baku International Seaport development, including technical assistance and potential investments. Rovshan Rustamov noted the growth of freight traffic along the Middle Corridor, particularly in the container segment, as well as the positive dynamics on the China-Azerbaijan route in 2025. During the year, 392 block trains were handled, a 37% increase compared to 2024, facilitated by ADY measures and the participation of China Railway Container Transport Corp. Ltd. in the joint venture Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd.
It was emphasized that the integration of the Baku International Sea Port into ADY’s structure has increased the efficiency of international shipping. In 2025, the Port of Baku handled a record volume of container cargo – over 107,000 TEUs, a 40% increase over the previous year. Charles Cormier expressed the World Bank’s interest in deepening cooperation with ADY, noting that the development of the Middle Corridor creates new opportunities for long-term partnership.