MOSCOW: Russia has granted its consent to Turkmenistan’s participation in the agreement on the North-South international transport corridor. The decision was made by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, as reported by TASS. The agreement aims to establish a multimodal transport route that connects various countries and facilitates the movement of goods.
The order signed by Prime Minister Mishustin states, “To accept the proposal of the Russian Transport Ministry, agreed with the Russian Foreign Ministry and other interested executive authorities, on the expression of consent by the Russian side to Turkmenistan’s accession to the agreement on the North-South International Transport Corridor.”
Furthermore, the Russian Foreign Ministry has been instructed to inform Iran about Russia’s consent to Turkmenistan’s participation in the agreement.
Turkmenistan’s Intention to Participate in Project
Turkmenistan had previously expressed its intention to become a participant in the project. Mammetkhan Chakiyev, the Director General of the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, stated that work is already underway in this regard. Given its strategic geographical location, Turkmenistan plays a significant role in the development of global supply chains.
The intergovernmental agreement on the North-South transport corridor was initially signed by Russia, India, and Iran in 2000. Since then, the number of participating countries has grown to 14. The project aims to attract cargo flows from India, Iran, and Arabian Gulf countries through Russian territory to Europe, offering a more efficient route compared to the traditional sea route through the Suez Canal. The North-South corridor significantly reduces transportation time and costs. The project incorporates various transportation systems from each participating country.
