Iran and Russia’s Astrakhan region developing Int’l North-South transport corridor

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 29. An increase in
mutual trade volumes and the development of cargo transportation
along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) were
discussed at a meeting between the head of the government of
Russia’s Astrakhan region, Denis Afanasev, and an advisor to the
head of the Iranian Mostazafan Foundation and chairman of the board
of Paya Tarabar Sina Holding, Seyed Mahdi Pakzat, Trend reports.

“The cargo turnover of the two ports in the Astrakhan region on
the Caspian Sea is primarily oriented toward Iran. More than 95
percent of all cargo passing through this transportation hub is
destined for Iran. Goods from India and the Persian Gulf countries
are transported to Astrakhan via Iran. This highlights the
development potential of INSTC, which holds significant promise,”
Afanasiev said.

According to him, the intensification of the multimodal
North-South Transport Corridor is supported by the dredging of the
Volga-Caspian Sea shipping channel, which now has a draft of 4.5
meters.

“This improvement is driving increased cargo flows. Over the
first five months of this year, cargo turnover between the
Astrakhan region and Iran through this section of the ITC across
the Caspian reached nearly 2.5 million tons, marking a 60 percent
increase compared to the same period last year. The potential
capacity of the Astrakhan ports is already 16 million tons, and
this is not the limit. A Caspian cluster has been established in
the Astrakhan region, encompassing two special economic zones—port
and industrial-production types,” the Russian official said.

The Mostazafan Foundation is one of Iran’s largest commercial
enterprises, specializing in various trade, transport, and
logistics operations.

To note, two years ago, a cooperation agreement was signed
between the Astrakhan Special Economic Zone Lotus and the Paya
Tarabar Sina company. Under this agreement, a joint logistics
enterprise has been operating since 2023 to advance INSTC.

The multi-vector North-South Transport Corridor has been
developing since 2000 with the involvement of 14 countries,
including Azerbaijan. One of its routes extends overland through
Azerbaijan and continues to Iran.

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