The 17th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, and Humanitarian Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran was held yesterday in Baku, the Azerbaijani Cabinet reported.
The meeting was chaired by the Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister, co-chairman of the commission on the Azerbaijani side, Shahin Mustafayev, and the Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development, co-chairperson of the commission on the Iranian side, Farzaneh Sadegh.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the co-chairs signed a memorandum of understanding on the outcomes of the commission’s meeting.
Mustafayev pointed out that construction of the Aghband-Kalaleh road bridge has already been completed, and the bridge is expected to become operational once the border and customs infrastructure is finalized. The project will connect the East Zangezur economic region with Nakhchivan via the shortest and most efficient route, and will also form an important part of a favorable road corridor linking the Persian Gulf with the Black Sea.
"In addition, extensive discussions were held on the development of the East-West and North-South transport corridors, the expansion of the region’s logistics capabilities and transit potential, as well as the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway line, considered a key component of the North-South Transport Corridor. The meeting noted that once commissioned, this railway line will significantly increase cargo transportation volumes in the North–South direction and reduce delivery times," the statement reads.
