Minister: Azerbaijan reaffirms commitment to North–South Transport Corridor

Azerbaijan remains committed to developing the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), with the project continuing to hold strategic importance for the country, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following bilateral talks in Moscow, Bayramov said work on Azerbaijan's section of the corridor is progressing in line with agreements previously reached between Baku and Moscow, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

He noted that Azerbaijan is prepared to increase the annual freight capacity of its section of the corridor to 5 million tonnes by 2028, provided that related infrastructure projects in Russia and Iran are completed.

"If all the necessary work is completed by the Russian Federation, and as construction progresses on Iranian territory, Baku is ready to expand the capacity of its section of the corridor," Bayramov said.

The foreign minister also provided an update on railway infrastructure in the Iranian city of Astara, saying that construction of a terminal financed by Azerbaijani capital is now 98% complete.

According to Bayramov, the remaining work involves finalising technical procedures required for the facility to be formally handed over and commissioned.

The International North–South Transport Corridor is a multimodal trade route linking Russia with Iran and India via Azerbaijan. The project is intended to reduce transport times and boost trade connectivity across Eurasia.

By Aghakazim Guliyev