President Abdullah Gül of Turkey arrives to Georgia where he, along with the presidents of Georgia and Azerbaijan, will launch a project for a Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to provide uninterrupted rail service from Europe to China. The project, which will convert the historical Silk Road into an ‘Iron Silk Road, assigns specific activities to each of the countries involved. Turkey will construct a 76-kilometer-long segment with an investment of YTL 380 million. Georgia will construct the section running from the Turkish border to Akhalkalaki on Georgian territory, a distance of 29 kilometers, and maintain the existing railways after that point. Azerbaijan will have a support role in the work in Georgia.
"This project was discussed and debated for years; however we now speak through our work. Some said it was beautiful; some said it was difficult; some said impossible. Now it`s time to work after the long discussion stage. We are now experiencing a magnificent time with positive and viable ideas flourishing," Gül said in a recent interview with Today`s Zaman.
On Wednesday, November 21st Georgian and Turkish officials will sign free trade agreement and avoidance of double taxation treaty. The event will also gather Georgian and Turkish businessman who are interested in investments in Georgia and would benefit from these treaties.
