Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct.30
By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:
A ferry service will be opened across the Caspian Sea between the ports of Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) and Olya (Russia), press service of governor of Russia's Astrakhan province said.
"The opening of the Turkmenbashi- Olya ferry route will become the promising element of the work. This will give impetus to the development of the North-South transport corridor to China and India through the Astrakhan province and Turkmenistan," governor of Astrakhan province Alexander Zhilkin said.
Earlier, Zhilkin paid a working visit to Ashgabat and met with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
"We regard Turkmenistan as a strategic partner, closest friendly neighbor with which we have come a long way in recent years," the governor said.
Experts say that the direct ferry service between the ports of Turkmenbashi and Olya near the Astrakhan and Makhachkala could also ensure the growth of cargo flow from Turkmenistan to Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus.
The demand for creating new transport routes is growing, according to the message.
Turkmenistan accounted for almost 30 percent of the total volume of export from the Astrakhan province in 2013. The total trade turnover between the province and Turkmenistan stood at nearly $370 million, which is five times more than in 2012.
Turkmenistan started the construction of Turkmenbashi new international seaport in the Caspian Sea which is expected to become a major junction of international transit and transport corridors running through Turkmenistan's territory. The project cost is estimated at approximately $2 billion.
Edited by CN
