Consultations were held in Kabul on the launch of the so-called Lapis Lazuli Corridor, a transit route between Afghanistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia. On the Turkish side, Ambassador Cenk Ünal participated in the consultations, TOLOnews reports.
According to a representative of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Imamuddin AhmadiA meeting was also held in Türkiye regarding the opening of the corridor. Based on its results, a justification for the start of the transit is being prepared.
This route, whose name comes from the Afghan lapis lazuli that was exported for many years along this part of the Silk Road, begins in the Afghan ports of Torgundi in Herat and Akina in Faryab, passes through the port of Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan, the capital from Azerbaijan, the Tbilisi region in Georgia and Istanbul, to finally reach the borders of Europe.
The agreement on trade and transit along the Lapis Corridor was signed in 2017 by representatives of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia. However, the route was never opened.
The launch of this transport corridor will reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on neighboring countries and turn it into an important transit hub in the region. The Lapis Lazuli agreement includes the construction of transport infrastructure along the corridor, improving transport services in transit countries and solving logistical problems in water and dry ports.
Afghan businessman Mirwais Hadjizada commented on the situation:
“This route should be activated now or next year, or in five or ten years. “It is important that merchants can export their products because the route is safe.”
The Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Investment considers the lapis lazuli route to be essential for the development of trade and transit relations. Member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and Investments Khan Jan Alokozay fixed:
“The importance of this route is exceptional. “It is as accessible as possible and we Afghans can easily reach Europe through it.”
The Lapis Lazuli project is considered one of the most important trade development initiatives for Afghanistan and the region, as it ensures that Afghan products reach Europe safely, quickly and at reasonable prices, notes TOLOnews.
