Silk Way Group has announced plans to develop a new cargo airport in the Alat Free Economic Zone in Baku, Azerbaijan.

This initiative — unveiled during the recent COP29 — aims to enhance the group's operational capabilities, foster growth, and leverage the zone’s strategic potential to increase business prospects and efficiencies.

The new airport will operate under the Silk Way Alat Free Economic Zone Company, a registered entity established to advance Silk Way Group's logistics and infrastructural initiatives in the region.

The project includes the construction of individual forwarder warehouses, state-of-the-art perishables airside facilities, and modern office buildings. This comprehensive plan aligns with the logistics industry's dynamic needs, ensuring adaptability and innovation in operations.

Designed as an advanced logistics hub, the airport will include 18 aircraft stands, a 4,000-meter runway and taxiway, as well as an air traffic control centre, fuel and fire services, and other related amenities.

In line with a commitment to environmental responsibility, the construction of the new facility will incorporate advanced sustainable technologies, including the utilization of alternative energy sources, positioning the cargo airport as a beacon of eco-friendly infrastructure.

The Silk Way Group noted that upon completion of the project in 2026, the wider Alat Free Economic Zone will become a prominent transit hub featuring integrated logistics infrastructure.

The zone's facilities will have access to the Baku International Sea Trade Port and extensive railway and motorway networks, as well as to the newly built airport, collectively enhancing Azerbaijan's transportation and distribution capabilities.

"The establishment of the new cargo airport in the Alat Free Economic Zone represents a significant milestone in the country's history, signifying a shift towards new opportunities that will effectively address the increasing local and global demand for freight transport," said Zaur Akhundov, President of Silk Way Group.

"This initiative not only bolsters our standing within the Middle Corridor but also opens up new avenues for growth, offering promising prospects for our business and for our valued partners and investors," he added.

Jawad Dbila, CEO of Silk Way Alat Free Economic Zone Company, also emphasized the importance of this project.

"As an official Silk Way entity, our focus is on integrating sustainable practices and advanced infrastructure to enhance connectivity, attract international partnerships, and reinforce Azerbaijan's role as a transit logistics hub. We look forward to witnessing this project's impact on our region's economic landscape and the opportunities it will generate," he said.