Russia, Iran get ready to intensify work of North-South transport corridor

Russia and Iran intend to intensify the work of the International Transport Corridor "North-South", Russian Deputy Transport Minister, head of the Russian State Naval Service Vyacheslav Ruksha told RIA Novosti. He arrived in the Iranian capital on a visit.

"These days the Russian-Iranian working group of the North-South transport corridor is holding a session and our task is to add concrete content to the corridor so that it started operating," Ruksha said.

"At the meetings with Iranian Deputy Transport Minister Massud Hansari and Secretary of the Corridor Javad Atrchiyan the day before we discussed directions of using terminal complexes to process transit cargoes of Russian and Iranian ports," he added.

One of the important tasks is to involve businessmen in the corridor's work, to establish business contacts and attract investments, Ruksha emphasized.

The Russian-Iranian transport direction can start functioning already now, he believes.

The interstate agreement on the International Transport Corridor "North-South" was signed a year ago by Russia, Iran and India. Kazakhstan and Belarus joined the agreement late in April 2003.

The transport corridor allows shipping cargoes between Russia, the CIS member states, the regions of the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and Southeast Asia in a short time.

At present the Council of the corridor is headed by Iran.