President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has stressed the significance of energy projects as he spoke at an interactive session on "Strategic Outlook: Eurasia" as part of the World Economic Forum in Davos. “They are important for us, they are important for the region and the projects, which we initiated, actually change the energy map of the region.” “The first pipeline we built to Georgia, to the port of Supsa connected the Caspian and Black seas. Then, the second pipeline for crude oil from Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan connected the Caspian and Mediterranean. Then, on the same route we built a gas pipeline. Therefore, we have already diversified export routes for our hydro-carbons, at the same time, providing substantially energy security of our partners, including those in Europe. Some countries of the European Union get the biggest part of their oil supply from Azerbaijan, and after we successfully complete the Southern Gas Corridor project, in two-three years' time they will also get access to our natural gas,” the head of state said.

He also stressed the significance of transportation projects. “Baku-Tbilisi-Kars changed the transportation map of the region. It is now the shortest route from China to Europe, which will take you about two weeks instead of 30-35 days before that. So this is a new map of transportation, the new map of energy diversification, and Azerbaijan being a landlocked country already managed, I think, to transform into a regional transportation hub. However, we still have to work,” President Ilham Aliyev said.

AZERTAC