South Caucasus Railways to be rebranded

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.-0-