Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Alim Bayel, has announced plans to restore maritime passenger transportation between the ports of Kuryk and Baku.

Operativ Media reports that the statement came from Kazakh Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel.

According to the ambassador, the initiative was proposed by the Kazakh side.

"Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan will restore passenger transportation in the Caspian. I am pleased that Azerbaijan has supported Kazakhstan's proposal. Currently, the transport authorities of both countries have begun working to restore passenger services as quickly as possible," the diplomat said.

Passenger transportation between the ports of Kuryk and Baku was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Alim Bayel, approximately 1,500 passengers were transported annually across the Caspian Sea via this route before it was suspended.

Relaunching the route will foster tourism development between the two countries and expand passenger transportation across the Caspian Sea.