Development of intl transport and transit corridor discussed in Uzbek capital

Ashgabat Agreement came into force in April 2016. The agreement was signed on 25 April 2011 by Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Oman and Qatar. In 2013, Qatar left the project.

In August 2014, in Muscat (Oman) ministers of foreign affairs of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Oman signed a memorandum of understanding on entering force of the agreement creation of transport corridor.

The agreement and memorandum were ratified by all four states. The First President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov proposed to create transport corridor Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman-Qatar and to other countries of Persian Gulf in October 2010 during visit to Ashgabat.

During the current meeting, the sides considered information on main operating transport routes in the territories of the members of the agreement. They also reached agreement on the list of automobile and transport routes for approval to the Coordination Committee of the agreement, which will make up the part of the single transport transit corridor within the Ashgabat Agreement.

The participants considered information on taxes, duties, tariffs and other payments, levied in ports and crossing sites of the agreement member states. The sides agreed to present several proposals for further discussions at next session of the Coordination Committee of the agreement.

In particular, the sides plan to make proposals to create “green” corridors for automobile vehicles, decrease time expanses at railway crossing points at changing wheels, create favourable conditions and efficient schemes for storage and processing freight, as well as use of the berth of the sea ports.

The sides agreed to discuss formation of unified through tariffs for the transit of goods by railway to improve competitiveness and attractiveness of transport-transit corridor, as well as increase the volume of transit cargo transportation.

The sides agreed to exchange information on main goods positions and provide tariff preferences on request. They also discussed information on necessity to simplify procedural and customs issues at border crossing points.

The member states also agreed to provide information on opportunities to decrease time expenses and create favourable conditions for undergoing administrative barriers at crossing points.

They also considered information on planned investment projects in the field of transport. It was noted that realization of investment projects will expand trade-economic cooperation between the members of the agreement.