Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkmenistan discuss development of railway transport cooperation

Iranian Tasnim agency reported that representatives of railway companies of three countries held negotiations in Tehran.

He said if Tehran, Tashkent and Ashgabat come to an agreement on a single rail transportation tariff, the capacity of rail transit between the three countries will double.

Pourseyed Aghaei said 1.6 million tonnes of goods are annually transported between Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, which will rise to 3 million tonnes if the agreement is reached.

He noted that currently Uzbekistan’s cotton and chemical fertilizers are transported via Turkmenistan to the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas to be exported to other countries.

Managing director of the Iranian Railway Company said Iran has proposed a 60-percent tariff for rail transit between the three countries based on the International Railway Transit Tariff (MTT).

Railroad officials of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan said they will convey the proposal to their countries’ officials for further discussion.