DUSHANBE, October 16, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Inefficient transport links between Tajikistan and Azerbaijan are among factors that impede expansion of trade between the two countries.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon made this remark in Dushanbe on October 16 at a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.

“Expansion of trade between our countries requires creation of the necessary infrastructure,” Tajik leader said.

He noted that both countries were interested in restoration of the Silk Route within the framework of TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia).    

TRACECA is an international transport program involving the European Union and 14 member States of the Eastern European, Caucasian and Central Asian region.  It has a permanent Secretariat, originally financed by the European Commission, in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Rahmon further said that Tajikistan was interested in resumption of direct flight between Dushanbe and Baku.

The direct flight between Dushanbe and Baku was launched on July 10, 2012 but it was suspended because of law passenger traffic.  The flight was resumed in March last year but it was later suspended again for the mentioned reason.