BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Azerbaijan,
Russia, and Iran signed a memorandum on strengthening cooperation
in railway connectivity and freight transportation along the
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Trend reports via the
Azerbaijan Railways.
The agreement was signed in Baku by Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman
of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC under AZCON Holding, Oleg Belozerov,
General Director and Chairman of the Board of Russian Railways
OJSC, and Jabbar Ali Zakeri, Head of Iran’s Islamic Republic
Railways (RAI), who came together for a trilateral meeting.
The officials engaged in discussions regarding the prospects for
enhanced cooperation in transportation and logistics, with a
particular focus on expanding the transit capacity of the
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which
connects all three nations. They identified key measures to improve
the corridor's efficiency.
Updates were provided on the ongoing development of the
Azerbaijani section of the corridor, highlighting the forthcoming
completion of the Sumgayit-Yalama railway line reconstruction by
the end of this year. Meanwhile, the construction of the Astara
Terminal in Iran is progressing and is anticipated to be finalized
by the first quarter of 2026.
The parties also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
Competitive Through Tariffs and the Advancement of Logistics
Services along the Western Route of the North-South Corridor. This
agreement outlines coordinated tariff structures, the establishment
of a unified tariff system, the organization of regular block
trains, and the streamlining of freight handling processes.
The implementation of these initiatives will foster a more
predictable, efficient, and cost-effective logistics network
between Azerbaijan, Russia, and Iran. The memorandum further
bolsters the three countries' positions as key players in
international transport corridors, while creating favorable
conditions for sustained growth in regional transit volumes.
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