BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 16. The 16th meeting of the Intergovernmental Economic Commission between Iran and Azerbaijan will take place soon in Tehran, Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadeq said, Trend reports.
Sadeq made the remark during a meeting with Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev in Iran's capital city on October 15.
Iran is eager to develop a roadmap to increase annual transit with Azerbaijan to 15 million tons, she emphasized.
According to the minister, cooperation between the two countries in transportation, logistics, and infrastructure projects is ongoing.
"Considering the existing potential for road transport at the border between the two countries, Iran proposes increasing the throughput capacity to 1,000 trucks through the Astara border crossing, 800 trucks through Bilasuvar, 700 trucks through Julfa, and 600 trucks through Poldasht," she noted.
Sadeq added that to accelerate the transportation process and develop the transport infrastructure of both countries, a comprehensive cooperation agreement needs to be signed.
She suggests organizing preparatory meetings and drafting an agreement within the next month.
In addition, she clarified, we could hold a joint expert meeting on port and maritime cooperation to finalize the agreement's initial text.
The Iranian minister emphasized Iran’s readiness to hold the 16th session of the Intergovernmental Economic Commission in Tehran as soon as possible and to focus on all aspects of cooperation.
Sadeq also said that Iran is taking steps to construct the Rasht-Astara railway as part of the North-South International Corridor.
This railway is considered a key element for transit within the corridor, and Azerbaijan's involvement in developing infrastructure related to it is of great importance, according to the official.
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