ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 27. Astrakhan Governor Igor Babushkin urged the quick selection of an operator for a regular shipping line between the Astrakhan Region and Turkmenbashi during the Russian-Turkmen Intergovernmental Commission meeting on June 19 at SPIEF, Trend reports, citing the Press service of the Governor of the Astrakhan Region.
Babushkin noted that establishing this shipping route will significantly boost trade turnover, which grew 15% last year between the Astrakhan Region and Turkmenistan. Astrakhan exports food products and grain crops to Turkmenistan and imports Turkmen textiles.
The Governor emphasized Astrakhan’s potential as a key logistics hub for Turkmen goods entering Russia, and its readiness to host a logistics center dedicated to Turkmen trade. “Astrakhan could become the main base for transshipment and distribution of Turkmen goods in Russia, as well as a platform for delivering Russian products to Turkmenistan,” Babushkin said.
He assured Turkmen partners that Astrakhan’s transport infrastructure can accommodate vessels of all types and handle various cargoes. Babushkin also presented a list of local enterprises interested in exporting to Turkmenistan, underscoring the region’s commitment to expanding economic ties.
The IPC meeting participants expect that selecting a shipping line operator and creating a logistics center will accelerate Russian-Turkmen cooperation and reinforce Astrakhan’s role as a strategic transport hub on the Caspian Sea.
