Georgia, Iran & Azerbaijan to Launch South-West Transport Corridor

Heads of Georgian, Iranian and Azerbaijani railways have discussed launching new South-West Transport Corridor, where Georgia will play viral transit role connecting Persian Gulf and India to Europe.

At Tuesday’s meeting the parties agreed to create a working group to coordinate a joint project. The new corridor will create a transportation route from the Persian Gulf and India to Europe.

Participants of the meeting also decided to organize the movement of cargo trains on the Poti/Batumi-Astara-Poti/Batumi route, and in the future on the route Gazvin-Tehran/Bandar-Abbas-Gazvin.

They agreed that the main advantage of the new project is the reduction of the distance and delivery time. Currently, cargo transportation from Persian Gulf and India to Europe usually takes 30-40 days.  

They also decided to begin negotiations with sea freight carriers in order to optimize the prices for cargo transportation on the sea section of the route.

 “The project is very important as it links two big economies with fastest route. The project will increase cargo turnover on Iranian, Azerbaijani and Georgian railways,” said Levan Sulaberidze, Director of GR Logistics and Terminals, a full subsidiary of Georgian Railway.

President of Iran Railway Saeed Mohammadzadeh said the project was very important.

"Very interesting proposals have been presented by the Georgian Railway, which I am sure will encourage railway traffic between the two countries,” he stated at the project presentation.

The Chairman of Azerbaijan Railway CJSC Javid Gurbanov noted that the new project has a good prospect.

“We want to create a united tariff system to better control the cargo transit. I am glad that the Government of Georgia created several free trade zones,” he noted.

Mamuka Bakhtadze, General Director of Georgian Railway, Javid Gurbanov and Saeed Mohammadzadeh signed the relevant document at the meeting.

By Thea Morrison