BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec. 22
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
A new corridor linking the Persian Gulf with Black Sea and vice versa via Iran-Azerbaijan-Georgia route was launched in pilot mode on Dec. 22, 2021, Trend reports citing IRNA.
The report said three trucks, as part of the pilot project, left Iran's Tabriz city on their way to Azerbaijan.
A number of officials from Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia oversaw the trucks leaving Tabriz for Azerbaijan.
Speaking at the event, Director General of the Transit and International Affairs Department of Iran Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization (RMTO) Javad Hedayati said that the corridor has been activated as a pilot basis to develop economic ties and establish transport links.
Hedayati said that Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia are the cornerstone of the corridor, being located around three important water zones (Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea, Black Sea).
Taking into account, the potential of the ports in south of Iran, the road network of Azerbaijan and Georgia, these countries will use the potential of the transport sector, including cargo cargo transportation, import, export and transit by activating the corridor," he said.
The director general noted that upon completion of the pilot cargo transportation, a tripartite meeting will be held on the details of the cargo transportation and an agreement will be reached between the parties.
“Given the threefold increase in maritime transport and transportation costs, it is important to make the most of opportunity created by the potential of the three countries,” Hedayati added.
According to him, with the interlink of South East Asian countries and India to East and West Europe through the corridor, land transport links between the countries of the region will expand.
The director general stressed that it is planned to transport 20 million tons of cargo a year through the corridor. In the 20-year period, it is planned to bring the figure up to 50 million tons per year.
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