Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash has said that transit of good through the country has increased more than 60% to 17.6 million tons over the past 12 months which he believed is indicative of the security and affordability of Iran's transit route for regional countries.
He made the remarks during a video conference of the BRICS transport ministers held on the sidelines of the 27th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum currently underway in the Russian city.
Bazrpash noted that by joining BRICS, Iran took a fundamental step towards expanding its relations with the group's member states in the areas of transportation, trade and economy.
He stressed that the BRICS policies and programs, which were reflected in the mechanism's statements and documents, demonstrated its capacity to address a wide range of issues relevant to the concerns of developing countries.
Noting that BRICS is a leading institution comprising major emerging economies, the Iranian minister said that with their complementary economies and cultural diversity, the BRICS members could meet each other's needs and exchange development experiences, thereby enhancing global prosperity and peace.
Bazrpash also highlighted Iran's geographical advantages, noting its strategic location at the intersection of transit corridors in the region.
With 11 trade ports capable of handling 273 million tons of goods along its northern and southern coasts, a 15,000-km rail network and over 250,000 km of high-quality roads, the minister said Iran was positioned to facilitate rapid connectivity within regional and global trade networks at minimal expenses.