Iran Press/ Iran News: Iran, Russia, and India gathered today in Tehran to discuss the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Geographically, Iran's territory, particularly the only ocean Port of Chabahar, is very strategic for activation of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) in linking India to Russia.
Established in 2000 by Iran, Russia, and India, this 7,200-km-long Corridor works as a multi-modal network of ship, rail, and road routes for moving freight between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.
The INSTC is a vital transport agenda that is expected to considerably boost the transit and trade of Iran and Russia with the countries of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf.
Since 2000, there have been numerous efforts and negotiations on the part of member countries to activate this route.
The first train along the INSTC arrived in Iran in July 2022, and later in September, the second train entered Iran through Sarakhs Border from Russia to the destination of India. From Russia, the transit train proceeded through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, passing 4000 km, then entered Iran through Sarakhs Border. Along the eastern part of the INSTC in Iran, the train passes 1600 km to reach Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas. The destination for this shipment was India and South Africa by sea, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Railway Company.
Freight transit through Iran's territory lasts almost a third of the previous route from Russia to India through the Black Sea.
Basically, the most important agendas for Iran and Russia's transport cooperation are the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the completion of the Rasht-Astara Railroad.
Last month in May, the agreement for financing the construction of the Rasht-Astara Railway was signed between Iran and Russia. As per this agreement, Due to the importance of the INSTC for international transit in the region, Russia has been determined to finance this railway project with approximately €1.6 billion in investments. This project is expected to be constructed within 48 months.
The 162-km Rasht-Astara railroad is one of the two missing rail links along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) its completion is vital for regional rail transit.
The INSTC and Chabahar Port are similarly crucial for India. Last year in August, upon the decree of India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Iran, and India's transport Ministers met in Tehran to expand the role of Chabahar Port in regional transit and trade.
The Indians tried hard to promote the position of Chabahar Port for higher connectivity, particularly among the CIS countries, as Mumbai hosted the Chabahar Day conference on July 31, 2022, to mark the Chabahar link to International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connecting Central Asian markets.
Presenting a speech at the meeting, Mehrdad Bazrpash elaborated on Iran Rah (route) initiative in relation to the north-south corridor, which he said included eight fundamental principles:
-Multilateralism, including the economic convergence of corridors and neutralizing unilateralism;
-Participation, that is to ensure the interests of all stakeholders;
-Transit neighborliness, that is, to create logistical and transit opportunities for the neighboring and non-neighboring countries;
-Network-centeredness, that is to synergize all transit infrastructure of all the engaged countries;-Facilitation, that is to ease the confusion of transit, logistics, trade, banking affairs, and regulations;
-Historical memory, that is, recalling the historical relations of the region's countries during the past centuries in global trade;
-Technology that is to strengthen the transmission of knowledge and experience in transit and logistic areas with an emphasis on new innovative technologies;
-Flexibility and resilience, that is, to preserve the quality and efficiency of transport and logistics infrastructure in different conditions;
The Iranian minister said that the mentioned principles could operationalize the capacities of geographical and economic advantages, which aligns with the North-South Corridor's fundamental goals.
Geographically, Iran's territory, particularly the only ocean Port of Chabahar, is very strategic for activation of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) in linking India to Russia.
India committed to the success of the North-South Corridor
Tehran (IP) - Indian Deputy National Security Advisor says India is committed to the success of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project.
Delivering a speech at the INSTC meeting on Tuesday, Indian Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misiri said: "We believe in connectivity as a general interest for countries of the region."
Iran, Russia, and India gathered Tuesday in Tehran today to discuss the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
'INSTC is just beyond a connectivity project. It has the potential to galvanize the economy of the entire region. Whether in the middle east, south, and Central Asia," said the Indian Misiri.
The Indian official appreciated Iran and Russia as essential actors in the connectivity and stressed the enormous economic gains for all the participant countries of the corridors.
He also enumerated the hindering factors on the way of the project, classifying them into three separate categories; The one relating to physical infrastructure, such as road, railing, and port; The second group deal with non-physical infrastructure, including procedures, customs affairs, and financing; And the last, which he called the least tangible factor pertaining to issues of perception and assessment.
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