The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan announced that Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have signed a roadmap for the development of the eastern route of the International North—South Transport Corridor for 2024-2025. This was reported today, July 20, by the IRNA agency.

The implementation of this document will increase the capacity of the route to 15 million tons per year by 2027 and to 20 million tons by 2030.

The Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan said that his country plans to continue its active participation in the development of the eastern route of the International North—South Transport Corridor, which has the largest capacity and will ensure the growth of cargo flows until 2030.

He considers this route to be the safest and shortest transport route to The Indian Ocean.

“I consider it necessary to start implementing the roadmap signed today in the context of developing the potential of the eastern route from the territory of Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran,” he added.

The document was signed on July 19 at the first trade and export forum of the International North-South Transport Corridor in Aktau, Kazakhstan.

It is noted that the North—South corridor was the result of joint efforts by Russia, Iran and India, launched back in 2000 to create a freight transport highway, and the initiative itself prompted a number of states to join this transit route in subsequent years.

It is noted that the desire of the project participants was based on the desire to create common corridors for sending goods from India to St. Petersburg, which bypass the Suez Canal. The Iranian route is only 7,200 km (through Suez — 14,500 km), and its use reduces transportation costs, transit time by 40% and saves 30% of transportation costs.