Despite COVID-19 adverse impacts on transit, the amount of Iran’s exports to Central Asia currently equals the pre-pandemic figures, according to a senior transportation official.
Director-General of Iran’s Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization Javad Hedayati made the remarks in an interview with IRNA in northeast of the country on Sunday evening.
Visiting Sarakhs, Lotfabad and Bajgiran which are Iran’s border crossings with Turkmenistan in northeast of the country, Hedayati said statistics show an increase in Iran’s exports during the first five months of the fiscal year (March 21-August 22).
Also, transportation from southern Iranian ports to Central Asia has grown by 30 percent during the mentioned period compared with last year’s corresponding period, the official added.
Due to importance of trade exchange between Iran and Central Asia via Turkmenistan border, problems in this regard are to be solved through talks, he noted.
In line with those talks, a video conference will be held with participation of Iranian and Turkmen officials in coming days, he added.
According to remarks made by local officials at Khorasan Razavi Province, if security is ensured in north Afghanistan, development of KTAI corridor between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran will be expected.
Most of Iran’s provincial land borders with Turkmenistan closed after the coronavirus breakout in December 2019.
Meanwhile, the borders opened gradually following health protocols observed by both countries.
Coronavirus has killed over 4,500,000 worldwide since its outbreak.