Avaza: Iran and Kazakhstan have reached an agreement to enhance their transport cooperation by establishing a joint roadmap aimed at boosting regional connectivity, particularly via the eastern route of the North-South Corridor.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh, alongside First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, engaged in discussions with Kazakhstan’s Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev at the 3rd UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries held in Turkmenistan’s Avaza port city. Sadegh emphasized the necessity of accelerating transit projects, focusing on the North-South transit corridor’s eastern branch, which is being led by Kazakhstan in collaboration with regional partners.

Sadegh advocated for the prompt execution of a multilateral cooperation document previously signed by deputy transport ministers from Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. The meeting also covered the enhancement of multimodal transport links, with a proposal to draft a five-year comprehensive plan for bilateral transport cooperation. Sauranbayev expressed support for the initiative and reiterated Kazakhstan’s openness to flights from Iran.

Additionally, the ministers committed to a swift evaluation of the Caspian Sea’s transit capabilities. Iran welcomed Kazakhstan’s proposal for joint transport projects akin to the ‘Caspian Bridge’ initiative with Azerbaijan, and both nations agreed to examine the proposal’s specifics further.