Baku, 10-11 September 2026 – The high-level CICA Conference of Port Authorities brought together leaders of port authorities, transport institutions, policymakers and international experts Member States to foster resilient supply chains and deeper economic integration.
Held under the topic "The Role of Ports in Regional Connectivity and Strategic Cooperation," the two-day event was hosted by the Azerbaijani Chairmanship of CICA with the support of Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Transport and Communications Holding (AZCON), Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) and the Baku International Sea Trade Port.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov emphasized that Azerbaijan's strategic location linking Europe and Asia strengthens its pivotal role in regional transport and logistics. He noted that the integration of the Baku Port into ADY, combined with sustainable infrastructure projects, is actively expanding transit capacity across the region through synergy-driven measures that effectively remove barriers between rail and maritime transport and enable faster seamless cargo movement.
Continuing the discussion on the broader regional dimension, CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay highlighted the growing global economic and technological weight of Asia, noting that the continent’s core strength lies in its diversity, markets and capacity to connect. He underscored transport connectivity within CICA as a vital practical tool for building confidence and uniting the region, with ports serving as critical strategic bridges linking maritime routes with railways, roads, dry ports, logistics hubs and industrial zones.
Secretary General Sarybay further noted that port efficiency and security shape trade costs and market access, emphasizing that reliable maritime links are especially vital for landlocked Member States to participate fully in regional and global trade.
CICA Secretary General highlighted the distinct advantage for regional cooperation provided by Azerbaijan’s active role as coordinator for the priority area of developing secure and effective transportation corridors. This complements its ongoing efforts to advance transport connectivity, digital transformation and sustainability during its CICA Chairmanship, in line with the motto "Stronger CICA: Connectivity, Digitalization and Sustainable Growth in Asia".
The event featured intensive plenary sessions addressing regional cooperation and sustainable partnerships through long-term frameworks, best practices in cargo handling and innovation strategies from world-leading ports like Lianyungang and Shanghai. Discussions also focused on the strategic importance of ports and multimodal connectivity in building resilient supply chains for landlocked states, optimizing cargo flows and enhancing integration between maritime, rail, and road transport via organizations like TRACECA.
In addition to strategic panel discussions, the agenda included B2B commercial meetings alongside a high-level Roundtable Discussion among CICA Port Authorities. These specialized sessions centered on policy coordination between transport operators and culminated in the Recommendations of the Conference.
On 10 September, delegates participated in a technical site visit to the Baku International Sea Trade Port (Alat). Attendees toured the general cargo and Ro-Ro terminals and experienced live demonstrations of the port's state-of-the-art digital management and safety systems, witnessing firsthand Azerbaijan's advanced logistics capabilities.
Building on prior milestones – the Conference on the digitalization of transport corridors December 2025 and the Termez Dialogue on Central and South Asia connectivity organized in partnership with CICA in June 2026 – the Conference of Ports Authorities in Baku further advanced the collective efforts of CICA Member States in translating broader connectivity goals into tangible, sector-specific cooperation.
