TEHRAN, Iran, Aug. 3
Trend:
Astara Governor highlighted the city's role in foreign trade, in particular, with neighboring Azerbaijan.
"Utilizing the capacity of Astara city in the year of production leap and in the development of economic and foreign policies can solve many problems,” Astara Governor Reza Jamshidi told Trend.
Jamshidi stated that Astara city is one of the most significant borders due to its location in the north-south corridor adding that its three rail, sea and land borders can be used to facilitate the export process.
“The border city of Astara, as the forefront of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the entrance to Gilan province, is of special importance, which requires special attention,” he said.
The governor also made a request to provincial and national officials to solve this strategic city's problems and address the issue Iran's Astara-Azerbaijan's Astara railway.
Astara-Astara Railway is the first segment projected for completion in the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway route, as part of the International North-South Transportation Corridor initiative.
The project includes the construction of a dual gauge (1,520 mm and 1,435 mm), and 82.5 meter long bridge over the Astarachay River.
Upon the construction completion, the Astara border will become the second rail connection between Iran and Azerbaijan, after the Julfa crossing, that has long linked the Iranian city of Tabriz with Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.