Referring to the extensive capacities of Guilan province in sea and land transportation, the governor of Guilan mentioned in the meeting with the head of the Astrakhan region that Guilan is ready to significantly improve the level of trade with Russia by developing flights, increasing ship traffic and completing the Rasht-Astara railroad.
According to the Public Relations Department of the Guilan Governor’s office, Hadi Haghshenas met with Igor Babushkin, the head of the Astrakhan region of Russia, in Shahid Ansari Hall of the Guilan Governor’s office on Monday night. Referring to the long history of maritime relations between Iran and Russia, he stated: Today’s capacities in the field of maritime transport are not comparable to those of four decades ago, and now Iranian ships have a loading capacity that is several times greater.
Stating that Guilan is interested in increasing the number of ships among the ports of the two countries, he said that the realization of this will undoubtedly develop the economy and trade relations between Guilan and Astrakhan.
The Guilan Governor emphasized the need to establish regular flights between Rasht and Astrakhan, adding that flights between Guilan and Astrakhan were held several times in the past years, but did not continue, and with the coordination of the chambers of commerce and the free zone, it is possible to establish regular flights.
Haghshenas also explained the economic capacities of Guilan in the production of rice, citrus fruits, and especially fisheries, and stated that packages introducing capacities and additional information will be provided to the Russian delegation.
He referred to the strategic project of the Rasht-Astara railroad connection and stated: 162 kilometers of the route remain, and with the follow-up of the presidents of Iran and Russia and the agreements made with the deputy prime ministers of Russia and Azerbaijan, the process of implementing this project has accelerated and its major part will reach significant progress by the end of the year.
Stating that a significant part of Russian exports passes through the long routes of the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean, Haghshenas said that the Iranian route from Bandar Abbas to Bandar Anzali and Astara is the shortest and most economical route for transporting goods to Russia.
Igor Babushkin, the head of the Astrakhan region of Russia, also stressed the need to strengthen economic cooperation and expand transportation infrastructure between Guilan and Astrakhan.
Referring to the long-standing relations between the two regions, he said that Astrakhan considered the development of brotherly cooperation with Guilan a strategic priority and added that they welcome the expansion of joint programs.
The head of the Astrakhan region considered the development of the capacities of the ports of Astara and Anzali as one of the important axes of cooperation and added that increasing the operational capacity of these two ports can significantly increase the volume of trade exchanges.
Babushkin also described the completion of the Rasht-Astara railroad as a vital project for the future of relations between the two countries and said that a sustainable rail connection will strengthen the North-South corridor route and significantly increase the speed and ease of goods exchange.
Emphasizing the expansion of ship traffic in the Caspian Sea, he stated that “Astrakhan is ready to extensively develop logistical cooperation and the activity of shipping lines between the two regions.”
