BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 9. The development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a crucial part of trilateral cooperation between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Novak said at the event dedicated to the development prospects of INSTC on September 9, Trend reports.
According to him, the relevance of the corridor is mentioned in the Russia-Azerbaijan Declaration on Allied Interaction.
Novak noted that trilateral collaboration would ensure the seamless transportation of goods in the Persian Gulf.
"Full-scale use of the North-South potential will have a positive impact on the level of trade, the cargo flow, and the economic activity of our countries. Among the primary objectives of joint activities as part of the working group, we propose to consider the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway section. This railway will ensure the growth of the cargo flow along the western corridor by up to 15 million tons. It's necessary to determine the rights of organizations that are not legally qualified and administrative resources for a comprehensive solution to issues. In addition, the establishment of through logistics service is of particular necessity for coordinating the transportation of goods," he stated.
Novak also pointed out that Russia worked out a list of measures to create the required infrastructure for the implementation of the western route in its territory with a volume of up to 15 million tons.
"It's important for Azerbaijan, Russia, and Iran to move forward in accordance with the instructions of their leaders, develop specific activities, as well as determine preliminary estimates of the necessary volumes to engage investment within the working group's activity," he added.