Improving Freight Transit and Logistics Performance of the Trans-Caucasus Transit Corridor

Bernard Aritua

Senior Infrastructure Specialist, The World Bank

Dr. Bernard Aritua is Senior Infrastructure Specialist at the World Bank Group. Based in Beijing China, he is Cluster Leader responsible for coordinating World Bank Transport Infrastructure and Freight Logistics technical assistance and investments in China, Central Asia and Mongolia.

He has worked in the field of infrastructure investment and economic policy for more than 20 years. During this time, he has led and provided technical input on policy analysis, regulation, institutional reform, and technical design of major highways; railways; inland waterways; freight logistics; and multi-modal transport.

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Abdulaziz Faghi

Program Leader for Infrastructure, Europe and Central Asia Region, The World Bank

Abdulaziz Faghi is a Program Leader for the Sustainable Development and Infrastructure Practice Groups in the South Caucasus based in Tbilisi, Georgia. He has 15 years of experience leading and developing infrastructure programs. He also brings to this position the in-depth experience from the Energy Global Practice where he worked as a Senior Energy Specialist in Europe and Central Asia, and prior in South Asia.

Abdulaziz has developed strong technical and leadership skills in operational work and strategic investments in cross-border trade. He has helped shape the organization’s agenda by collaborating across the World Bank Group, as well as with development partners through joint financing and policy dialogue efforts.

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Mr. Victor Aragones

Senior Transport Economist, The World Bank

As Senior Transport Economist at the World Bank, Mr. Victor Aragones specializes in railways and manages financing and analytical activities in Serbia, Albania, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Mr. Aragones joined the World Bank in 2016 after serving as Staff Director (Chief Economist) at the Regulatory Analysis Division of the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration, the agency responsible for railways within the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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Hendrik Wehlen

General Manager Sales and Operations, InterRail Europe GmbH

In 17 years, Hendrik Wehlen has acquired extensive knowledge in the national and international logistics industry and since 2016 has deepened his knowledge in rail freight transport with a focus on New Silk Road traffic. As General Manager (Sales & Operations) at InterRail Europe GmbH, he develops new rail products and is responsible for expanding and increasing the market position in Europe and China. In the previous stages as logistics manager Hendrik Wehlen has gained extensive know-how in sales, marketing, business development and fleet management.

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David Peradze

General Director, JSC Georgian Railway (GR)

David Peradze is a CEO of state owned enterprise JSC Georgian Railway, the only railway operator in Georgia. Georgia is vertically integrated company with infrastructure and rolling stock. GR has more than 12 thousand employees and is one of the biggest company in Georgia founded in 1972.

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Javid Gurbanov

Chairman, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY)

Mr. Javid Gurbanov was born on September 19, 1958 in Kalbajar region, Azerbaijan.

He is Member of Parliament of Azerbaijan, statesman and engineer.

He has been the chairman of "Azerbaijan Railways" since February 09, 2015 with Presidential decree.

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Ming Li

Director of Smart City Department of China Center for Urban Development, National Development and Reform Commission

Mr. Ming Li, Director of Smart City Department of China Center for Urban Development under National Development and Reform Commission. His research interests include smart cities, big data analytics, and sustainable urban development. Mr. Li has led several regional and urban planning projects, and he owns rich research experiences to support the National “10th Five-Year-Plan” & “11th Five-Year-Plan” for National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Development (MoHURD).

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Pasha Karim

Regional Manager, Kerry/Globallink Logistics

Mr. Pasha Karim in his position as a Regional Sales Manager, has developed an in-depth understanding on logistics challenges in the CIS region and in particular on the One Belt One Road initiative connecting China and Europe

Prior to starting his career at Globalink Logistics Group, Mr. Karim worked in the US where he specialized in organization wide development and implementation of processes, policies including customer relationship management. When presented with the opportunity to join Globalink Logistics Group, Mr. Karim was able to bring these skill sets to setup and develop the Corporate, Sales and Marketing Divisions. With sucess in this endeavour, Mr. Karim is currently responsible for regional sales and global corporate accounts at Globalink Logistics.

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Jiyi Zhang

Chairman of China Railway Container Transport Corp.,Ltd.

Mr. Zhang has been working for China Railway for 36 years. He used work for different subsidiary companies, divisions and departments of China Railway, such as Bureau of Beijing Railway, Transportation Command Center of China Railway Company, Shanghai Railway Company, and Huhehaote Railway Company.

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