Construction of transport corridor between Central Asia and Middle East to be discussed in Qatar

Qatar will host the first session of the working committee consisting of member-states of the project for construction of the transport and transit corridor Qatar-Oman-Iran-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

A Coordination Council is expected to be established.

Signing of the inter-state deal was held in Ashkhabad on April 25, carried out by foreign ministers.

The corridor will run from Uzbekistan to Farab and Turkmenistan and through Serakhs to Iran. It will reach the ports of Oman and Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Russia and China will enter new markets, making the project more beneficial.

Establishment of the route belongs to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The agreement involves studies of cooperation prospects in international transit freighting in the Persian and Oman Gulfs, customs services, car freighting, railway and naval transport and joint investments.

Turkmenistan and Iran, with the participation of Kazakhstan, are realizing a trilateral project on establishment of the North-South railway corridor. Cargo will be brought to the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, Europe and other regions.

Transit is expected to reach 10-12 million tons annually. The corridor is shorter than the existing route Beyneu-Turkmenabat-Serakhs by 600 km. It will reduce time needed for transport by 2 days, as well as cut expenses.

Three states involved in the project are constructing the railway, supported by the Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.