Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 17
By Ali Mustafayev – Trend:
Uzbekistan Railways JSC currently negotiates with Afghan partners to design and determine the railway route through Afghanistan, Deputy Head of the Uzbekistan Railways Erkin Kadirov told Trend.
"With the future implementation of this project, the Trans-Afghan corridor will become an important logistics link opening new opportunities for transporting goods from Central Asia, Eastern Europe, China and Russia towards the countries of the Persian Gulf and back along the most optimal route," Kadirov said.
He also stressed that transportation of cargo to the Iranian port of Chabahar will be possible if Iran builds the railway section from Chabahar to Khafa.
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan announced their intention to build a railway through Afghanistan in the fall of 2017. The implementation of the project will expand the trading opportunities of the participating countries, in particular, the railway will allow Uzbekistan to gain direct access to the Iranian ports.
The project will increase trade between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran and China. Another railway is expected to be constructed from Mazar-i-Sharif to Kunduz.