The first rail transit cargo from Russia to India arrived in Iran on Tuesday through the Sarakhs border crossing to officially launch the eastern section of the International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC).
The arrival of the Russian train into the Iranian border was observed in a ceremony attended by First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber along with roads and urban development, oil, industry, and agriculture ministers as well as the vice president for science and technology, IRNA reported.
Speaking in the ceremony, Mokhber stressed the Iranian government’s determination for expanding trade with neighboring countries, especially in the transit sector, saying: “The transit capacity of the country has increased to 20 million tons and by planning and taking appropriate measures, transiting 300 million tons of commodities per year can be reached.”
Carrying 39 containers, the Russian transit train left Chekhov station on July 6, traveling 3,800 kilometers through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to enter Iran. The cargo will be transported to Bandar Abbas port in southern Iran through a 1,600 km rail route to finally be sent to India’s Nhava Sheva Port via sea.
Iran and Russia are also cooperating in the maritime sector to use the Caspian Sea to shorten the transit route from Russia to India.
Head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization Alireza Peimanpak said early in April that activation of the North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC) would reduce transportation costs and time from Eurasia to the Persian Gulf countries and India by 30 percent.