Baku, Azerbaijan freighter operator Silk Way has launched two strategic brands: SW AFEZCO (the Silk Way Alat Free Economic Zone Company) and the Alat Logistics Center.
Both are central pillars of the Silk Way Cargo Village, a major infrastructure project aimed at positioning Azerbaijan as a vital logistics hub situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
And both are expected by Silk Way to play a transformative role in shaping the future of logistics in the region.
The Alat Logistics Center will be the core logistics integrator within the Silk Way Cargo Village, designed to provide multimodal transport solutions connecting air, rail and road networks.
Strategically located within the Alat Free Economic Zone and adjacent to SW AFEZCO’s planned environmentally-friendly cargo airport, the Alat Logistics Center is intended to facilitate seamless cargo movement across Eurasia.
The Alat Logistics Center will take in warehousing, freight consolidation, Customs clearance and e-commerce fulfillment operations.
Together, SW AFEZCO and the Alat Logistics Center represent a forward-looking, integrated logistics platform that merges infrastructure, operations and sustainability, a Silk Way Group statement said.
“Their combined impact will accelerate Silk Way Group’s mission to strengthen Azerbaijan’s role in global logistics and to develop the Alat region into a smart, green and investor-friendly logistics hub.”
Vital node
Zaur Akhundov, president of the Silk Way Group, commented: “The launch of SW AFEZCO and Alat Logistics Center marks a significant step forward in our ambition to turn Alat into a vital node in global trade.
“We are building more than infrastructure – we are creating a future-ready, sustainable logistics hub that reflects Azerbaijan’s strategic location and economic vision.
“Our goal is to provide global partners with world-class logistics services and a gateway to emerging markets.”
Air cargo gateway
According to the Alat Free Economic Zone Authority, the previously announced new cargo airport in the Zone will have an annual cargo handling capacity of 500,000 tons annually, with further gradual increases in capacity to reach an annual 1.5m tons.
It is expected that the airport will be operational not later than the first quarter of 2026.
This airport, to be operated by SW AFEZCO, will be a key part of the Alat Logistics Center and Silk Way Cargo Village.
