DUSHANBE, 20.09.2023 (NIAT Khovar) – The first meeting of the High-Level Working Group on the Multimodal Corridor “Tajikistan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Turkiye” will be held for the first time in Dushanbe on September 21.

The meeting will be held under the auspices of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

In accordance with the recommendation of the “Ankara Declaration” adopted by the 11th meeting of ECO Ministers of Transport, it was decided to establish a meeting of the High-Level Working Group responsible for developing policy and implementing the Tajikistan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey highway development project and the multimodal corridor.

The meeting is expected to focus on the development and promotion of the said international transit corridor in order to increase cargo transportation and facilitate trade procedures, especially for countries without access to the sea.

A new route for transporting goods from China to Turkiye through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran was presented on October 18, 2022 in Dushanbe during the International Conference “Logistics and its advantages in the development of transport links between Tajikistan and the countries of the region.” The opening of the multimodal corridor “Tajikistan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Turkiye” was announced at the conference by the Minister of Transport of Tajikistan Azim Ibrohim.

“The use of the corridor is effective in terms of reducing distances and reducing the cost of transporting goods compared to existing corridors. The advantage of this corridor is that it connects the territory of Tajikistan with China via a highway, which contributes to the revival of the Great Silk Road and regional economic integration,” the minister noted.

According to him, a control system automation project is currently being implemented, and work continues to introduce online positioning of cargo movement across Tajikistan.

Issues regarding the implementation of electronic transport bills, electronic queues and other opportunities that will have a positive impact on simplifying procedures and processes are being considered.

In addition, while delivering speech at the 10th Meeting of SCO Ministers of Transport on April 28, 2023, in New Delhi, Ibrohim also called this project very important from the point of view of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.