A transit and export route linking Russia's Dagestan in the North Caucasus region to the northern Iranian city of Rasht has opened, the governor general of Gilan province has announced, Press TV reported.
Speaking at the end of a three-day visit to Makhachkala, the capital of the Republic of Dagestan, Rouhollah Qahremani-Chabok told IRNA on Saturday that the route will boost Iran's trade with Russia.
He said, "Thanks to the Rasht-Dagestan transit route, Iranian businesspersons and entrepreneurs will be able to bolster their trade ties with Dagestani merchants."
The Dagestan market can also help Gilani traders acquire a more significant presence in European markets, he added.
Earlier in October, he said Iran and Russia were planning to build a highway to link Rasht to the Russian capital city Moscow via Azerbaijan.
In April 2010, Iranian and Russian officials signed a trade agreement to expand economic cooperation between the two neighboring states.
The volume of trade exchanges between Iran and Russia is estimated to stand at $3.7 billion, and the two countries say they are determined to significantly increase their trade interactions.