SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAYS TO BE REBRANDED
ARKA
Dec 24, 2009
YEREVAN, December 24, /ARKA/. The South Caucasus Railways (SCR) company
CEO Shevket Shaidulin said today the company will be re-branded next
year. Speaking at the last news conference this year he said the
company will change its ‘face’ to meet international standards.
Earlier the South Caucasus Railway company had asked the government
of Armenia to grant it the status of an international company, which
Shaidulin said will it to join international transport and logistical
organizations and provide it with an opportunity of equal cooperation
with railways companies from neighbouring countries.
According to Shaidulin, the new status will also help promote Armenia’s
interests in international organizations and become more attractive in
terms of investments attraction. He said the unfolding developments
in the South Caucasus, especially those related to the opening of
the border and plans for construction of Iran-Armenia railway may
radically change the external and internal environment of the Armenian
economy, including the role of railroads in the country’s economic
and political life.
Today he said the company’s name will not be changed, but its logo
will be different and new approaches towards work organization will
be enforced.
‘We are positioning the company on the international level and
therefore we should be perceived by Europeans as a serious company,’
he said.
In 2007 the Armenian government called tenders for a 30-year
concession to modernize and operate Armenian Railways. An Indian
RITES and Russian Railways qualified to bid, but the Indian company
withdrew. The Russian Railways was the only bidder and has set up
South Caucasian Railway as a subsidiary to run the Armenian Railway.
The concession agreement was concluded for 30 years, with a right
of extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of
operation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
