When TASIM will be [fully] realized, it will be as important as TANAP, said the minister in the interview with Hurriyet Daily News, during the visit to Istanbul.
Today Azerbaijan and Turkey are trying to form a relationship apart from oil and natural gas, which is communications," said Abbasov, adding that the two states are trying to build a business environment in which businessmen will be exempt from taxes and customs procedures.
Abbasov said Baku and Ankara have a joint project that will open access for Azerbaijani and Turkish businessmen to the markets of the two countries and expand the export and trade opportunities of the two countries` companies.
The minister also emphasized the growing importance of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the region.
It should be noted that the groundbreaking ceremony has been recently held in Turkey`s Kars province for the TANAP gas pipeline that envisages the transportation of gas from Azerbaijan`s Shah Deniz field from the Georgian-Turkish border to Turkey`s western borders.
TASIM project envisages the creation of a major transit line from Frankfurt to Hong Kong. The network, which will link the largest information exchange centers in Europe and Asia, will run through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to Germany. The second alternative northern transit line is planned to run through Russia, Ukraine and Poland.
The issue of laying of the Caspian segment of cable line is an integral part of the TASIM project, and negotiations on this issue are underway with Kazakhstan.
TASIM project involves such countries as Russia represented by Rostelecom (operator), Kazakhstan (KazTransCom), Turkey (TurkTelecom - operator), China (China Telecom). Azerbaijan is represented by the Center of International Relations and Calculations of the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies.
The cost of the project is estimated to $100 million, according to the preliminary estimations and after the approval of certain aspects it can be adjusted. The investments will be distributed equally between the project participants. It is planned to start the construction work in 2016.
TASIM project aims to reduce poverty, speed up economic growth, and can also play a leading role in the development of the region. Its implementation will eliminate the "information gap" between the countries of the West Europe and Pacific Basin.
Azerbaijan`s TASIM project comparable with TANAP in terms of importance
09 April 2015
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The Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM) will be at least as important as the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Project (TANAP), Azerbaijan`s Minister of Communications and High Technologies Ali Abbasov said.
