Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia Sign Memorandum on Facilitation of Customs Transit Transportation
Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia signed a memorandum on facilitation of customs transit transportation. The tripartite meeting of Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia's customs services was held in Tehran. Shahin Bagirov, the head of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, Alirza Senggi, the head of the Iranian Customs Department, and Vladimir Bulavin, the head of the Russian Federal Customs Service, took part in the meeting.
Based on the results of the negotiations, a memorandum of understanding on facilitating the transit of goods was signed. In this direction, it is planned to establish a committee with the participation of representatives of the three parties for the work coordination. The agreement will create additional opportunities to ensure international trade and supply chain continuity, expand the North-South transport corridor, and simplify customs operations at border crossing points on the Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia route.
During the meeting, it was noted that newly created roads and logistics centers in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan would boost the country's transit opportunities. According to the memorandum, the parties plan to more actively apply the electronic information exchange system to facilitate customs procedures.
On January 25, the foundation of a new bridge over the Astarachay River on the Azerbaijan-Iran border was laid. The 89-meter-long and 30-meter-wide bridge is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The foundation of the International North-South Transport Corridor was laid based on an intergovernmental agreement signed between Russia, Iran, and India on September 12, 2000. In total, 13 countries have ratified the agreement, including Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Russia, and Turkey.