Azerbaijan Railways

History

2024: Receiving $47 million from the Asian Development Bank to digitalize the railway

On October 1, 2024, it became known that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved the provision of a loan to Azerbaijan in the amount of $47 million for the implementation of the digital transformation project of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (AZD). These funds are aimed at modernizing the country's railway system in order to improve its safety, reliability and efficiency.

According to the Report, the project provides for the digitalization of key AZhD processes, including railway transportation management, assets, planning and investment management, as well as customer data processing and corporate functions.

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ADB Director General for Central and Western Asia Evgeny Zhukov noted that the modernized digital railway system will support Azerbaijan's key role in connecting the economies of East and Central Asia with the Caucasus and Europe. According to him, this initiative will help the country to maximize its potential as a trading and connecting hub.

ADB emphasizes that digitalization is crucial for improving operational efficiency, competitiveness and full use of Azerbaijan's role in regional transit corridors. ADB transport specialist Nanyang Zhou pointed out that this financing will improve the operational and financial performance of AZhD through optimized data and asset management.

Azerbaijan's railway lines are a key hub in corridors 2 and 6 of the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC). The project is in line with CAREC Transport Strategy 2030 and Railway Strategy for CAREC 2017-2030 aimed at improving rail and multimodal infrastructure, commercializing and reforming railways.^[1]

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