The ICT Ministry’s Public Relation center reports that, Shahin Mustafayev, the Azeri Industry and Economy Minister, making an official visit and inspection from the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara Railroad project just before its commencement, accompanied by Dr. Vaezi, the Iranian Minister of Communication, referred to the growth and development of Iran-Azerbaijan relations, stating that: “Realization of the North-South corridor is one of the most important achievements of the Tehran-Baku relations.”
He emphasized on the importance of the North-South Corridor for all the countries in the region, and included that: “This railway route is being established to transport cargo from India via Iran and Azerbaijan Republic to the countries in the northern hemisphere.”
The Minister of Industry and Economy of Azerbaijan Republic highlighted the shipment of goods and cargo via Iran, Azerbaijan, and Georgia through the Black Sea and straight on to Europe, as some of the objectives in the construction project of the corridor.
Mustafayev asserted that: “The necessary planning has been carried out for transporting passengers through the North-South Corridor; therefore, the Iran-Azerbaijan railway has become important for all the countries in the region.”
He reminded that: “This year, construction of 8km of railroad which is the responsibility of Azerbaijan’s Astara will be concluded, and the special railway bridge to be constructed on the joint Iran-Azerbaijan border will enter the execution phase.”
The Azeri Minister commented in regard to the customs toll paid by Iranian trucks at the Azerbaijan’s Astara border crossing, adding that: “This customs fee has just been cancelled by Azerbaijan Republic.”
Mustafayev included that: “Today we visited Qazvin-Rasht Railway project site. There is a very close interaction between Iran and Azerbaijan regarding the construction of Rasht-Astara railroad, and we have established a special joint taskforce for the construction phase of this project.”
He referred to the commencement of this special taskforce, reminding that: “measures have been taken into consideration to provide the required finance for the construction of this railway on the Azerbaijan side, and the realization of this project is going to benefit both Iran and Azerbaijan.”