The amount of goods transited from Iran’s borders in the first six months of the year (March 21-August 22) shows 5.2% increase compared to last year’s figures, said Mohammad Atrchian, the director general of Iran’s road maintenance and transportation organization (RMTO).
Mentioning Iran’s geostrategic location and the role of Iran’s ports in shortening the north-south transport corridor, Atrchian noted that increasing revenues, improving ties with neighboring countries and generating employment are some of the benefits of transit trade.
Simplification, Standardization
RMTO has plans for simplification and standardization of transit regulations, improvement of transportation system, infrastructure development and expansion of international transport corridors. Atrchian announced standardization of cross-border transportation procedures, coordination of border transit regulations and creation of opportunities for short and long term investment as RMTO’s future agenda.
Around 1.5 million trucks transit annually from Iran’s 24 official borders,” FNA quoted Atrchian as saying. He highlighted the high volume of annual import/export transit via Iran’s borders as a sign of growth in foreign trade.
He mentioned the recent transit row between Iran and Turkey over truck transit fees and said: “The government is definitely backing Iranian truck drivers on this issue. Under no condition do we provide subsidized fuel to Turkish trucks or any other countries for that matter.”
The transit row between Iran and Turkey broke out after Turkey increased transit fees for Iranian trucks, demanding Iran to stop charging Turkish truck drivers the differential fuel price if they want the fees reduced. Iran refuses to comply on the ground that the Iranian transit trucks must purchase fuel at much higher cost in Turkey.
Transit Potential
Pointing to the 5.2% growth in transit volume in the first half of this year, Atrchian expressed hope that with improvements in infrastructure and ports’ capacities, Iran can be the biggest player in EurAsia transit domain, calling Iran as a “bridge between Europe and Asia.”
Iran has a favorable and strategic position for transit, placed en route both north-south and east-west transport corridors. Besides, Iran is connected to international waters via Persian Gulf in the south and connected with newly independent CIS states in the north via Caspian Sea, and also bridging China, the world’s largest manufacturer, in the east to Europe in the west.
