Iran, Russia launch major transit projects to boost trade efficiency

Iran and Russia have launched two major transit and logistics projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and improving trade efficiency.

The projects include the "Ulyanovsk-Astara" railway route and the "Volga-Caspian Sea" river corridor, which are expected to reduce the transit period from 21 days to just seven, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

Governor of Ulyanovsk Region Alexei Russkikh, Iran's Consul General to Russia’s Kazan city Davoud Mirzakhani, officials from India, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iraq, as well as representatives from transportation companies, including the Iran-Russia port of Solyanka attended the launch ceremony in Ulyanovsk.

While speaking at the ceremony, Russkikh emphasised the potential of the projects to facilitate faster and more cost-effective trade between the two countries. 

He highlighted a 76 per cent increase in trade volume between Iran and Ulyanovsk over the first nine months of 2024, reaching $15 million, compared to $8.5 million in the same period of 2023. Mirzakhani underscored the economic importance of the Volga region, which accounts for a significant share of Russia's agricultural, industrial, and mineral production.

This corridor, one of the most significant joint ventures in the Volga region, is set to play a key role in strengthening trade relations between Iran and Russia, particularly by leveraging the strategic position of Ulyanovsk and its 13 ports along the Volga River. 

Earlier, Russkikh said that the route for the first direct cargo block train from Ulyanovsk to Baku (Azerbaijan) and Astara (Iran) was approved and the train was prepared for departure.

"Good news came from Russian Railways – the route for the first-ever direct cargo block train from Ulyanovsk to Baku and Astara [Iran] has been approved. This is part of the Western rail corridor of the logistics project 'Middle Volga – Caspian Sea – Persian Gulf'," he said. 

He added that the cargo included agricultural products, industrial goods, and wood processing products.

By Naila Huseynova