SHEVKET SHAYDULIN: 2009 WAS A YEAR OF ANTI-CRISIS PROGRAMS
Nelly Danielyan

"Radiolur"
24.12.2009 17:49

Executive Director of the South-Caucasus Railways Shevket Shaydulin
characterized 2009 as a year of anti-crisis programs.

The most important anti-crisis measure was that the current fees
remained unchanged, as a result of which the company suffered a loss
of 225 mln rubles.

According to Shaydulinm in 2009 the Company met 94% of the commitments
assumed under the concession agreement.

Presenting the statistics of transportation of goods, Shevket Shaydulin
said: "This year the exports made 7.4% of the total transportation
instead of the 24% in 2008." According to him, the volume of internal
transportation of goods has almost doubled, while the imports have
nearly remained unchanged.

To promote exports, the fees will be reduced 0.84% in 2010, he said.

The fee for internal transportation of non-industrial goods will be
cut 14%. Instead, the fees for imports and internal transportation
of industrial goods will considerably go up.

As for transportation of passengers, Shevket Shaydulin promises there
will be no drastic change in prices. However, the speed of the trains
will increase, and the quality of services provided will be improved.

Speaking about the future programs, particularly the constriction of
the Armenia-Turkey railroad, Director of the South-Caucasus Railways
said: "As transporter we are interested in the opening of the border,
but we need your help as a state."

Shaydulin believes our country has good chances to become a transit
country, and not only transporters, but also the authorities must
make use of this opportunity.