The agreement was signed following talks and negotiations between Managing Director of Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (abbreviated RAI) Saeid Mohammadzadeh and his Georgian and Azerbaijani counterparts, Mamuka Bakhtadze and Ganbar Javid Gurbanov, around technical and economic aspects of goods transfer.
At the session, which was held at initiative of Iran’s Embassy in Georgia, the parties emphasized the need for cooperation and implementation of joint plans of the three countries as well as early operation of the pathway.
Iran’s Mohammadzadeh stressed the need for coordinated and planned exploitation of capabilities of the three countries in order to activate the Persian Gulf-Black Sea pathway as well as the need for expansion of infrastructures in later stages of the international project.
He further emphasized that the pathway will benefit not only the three participating countries but also the all the states on the route as it reduces costs and accelerates transfer of goods.
RAI Chairman also suggested that, for more coordination, a joint chamber be formed in Tehran, an initiative which was welcomed by Azeri and Georgian representatives.
The pathway primarily aims at transferring goods through rail from Europe to Persian Gulf and later India.
The Black Sea is one of the most strategic aquatic areas the world which connects Bosphorus Narrows and the Marmara Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and Kerch Strait to the Sea of Azov and has water borders with Russia, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Georgia, respectively.
Creating a transit route from the Black Sea to Iran and then to the Persian Gulf could bring about a huge development in international and transcontinental economic and trade cooperation.
HA/3997889