Rustam Minnikhanov at the round table on the North-South international transport corridor: The North-South Corridor is a key element of the transport framework of Eurasia
Rustam Minnikhanov at the round table on the North-South international transport corridor: The North-South Corridor is a key element of the transport framework of Eurasia
18 May
The round table "Development of the North-South International Transport Corridor" was held today as part of the XIV International Economic Forum "Russia — the Islamic World: KazanForum 2023".
The event was held at the site of the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Complex.
The session was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Marat Khusnullin, Assistant to the President of Russia Igor Levitin, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.
As Marat Khusnullin noted, opening the round table, the development of the transport corridor is one of the highest priorities for our country today, which was set by President Vladimir Putin. The routes of the Caspian region, South and Southeast Asia, and the Persian Gulf countries have always been a priority for the Russian Federation, he stressed.
"In recent years, the geopolitical situation has changed dramatically, we are forced to rebuild logistics chains, and we are actively engaged in this. We believe that by 2025 the cargo turnover in this direction should double to no less than 30 million tons. And by 2030 – up to 35 million tons. We are constantly working to increase trade turnover between friendly countries," Marat Khusnullin said. "And we are certainly interested in the development of this transport corridor."
In turn, Tatarstan's Rais Rustam Minnikhanov said that the international transport corridor "North-South" is a key element of the transport framework of Eurasia.
"The transport corridor is of particular importance for the Eurasian Economic Union as an important alternative corridor for economic development and as a response to the economic and political influence of the European Union. The countries located along the North–South axis have been showing interest in cooperation with the EAEU since May 2018, when the free trade agreement with Iran was signed. Similar free trade negotiations are underway between the EAEU and India. There is also interest in other countries of South Asia and the Persian Gulf. In addition, there is a significant potential for connecting the North-South corridor with latitudinal transport routes," Rustam Minnikhanov said.
He also noted that the launch of the North-South corridor contributes to the creation of a macro-regional transport and logistics system – the Eurasian Transport Structure. This, in turn, lays the foundation for the development of trade and investment relations within Eurasia and meets the long-term economic interests of many countries of the Eurasian continent, in particular those that have no access to the sea.
Today, the EAEU's turn to the South and the early introduction of the North-South ITC are of particular importance in the light of sharp global geopolitical shifts and the need to reconfigure supply chains in Eurasia. In addition to expanding trade, the development of the transport corridor encourages the construction of dry ports, industrial parks and SEZs along transit routes. It will facilitate cooperation in the production of goods and services, accelerate the creation of new production and logistics chains between the members of the Eurasian Economic Union and the major developing countries of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, including Iran, India and Pakistan.
"As you know, Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin this year approved a new Concept of the country's foreign policy. In particular, it says that Russia is striving to transform Eurasia into a single continental space,"
Rustam Minnikhanov reminded. - To achieve this, it is planned to strengthen the economic and transport interconnectedness of Eurasia, including through the early launch of the international transport corridor "North – South". Rustam Minnikhanov stressed that the development of this direction is still hindered by a lot of problems. These are not only unresolved technical and economic issues, but also political issues related to the uneven relations of a number of countries with each other, as well as security issues and other hindering factors.
"Tatarstan is ready to provide the necessary assistance in the implementation of the project, will integrate into this international transport system. During our foreign trips and meetings, the topic of transport corridors and logistics is always discussed. Last year we visited Iran and saw how much the Iranian side is interested in the development of this direction. The same can be said about Turkmenistan, and about Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan. Therefore, these issues are the most important."
Rustam Minnikhanov expressed confidence that the North–South transport corridor, with proper development, will become one of the key elements of transport logistics in Eurasia, and today it is necessary to work more actively in this direction.
The event was held at the site of the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Complex.
The session was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Marat Khusnullin, Assistant to the President of Russia Igor Levitin, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.
As Marat Khusnullin noted, opening the round table, the development of the transport corridor is one of the highest priorities for our country today, which was set by President Vladimir Putin. The routes of the Caspian region, South and Southeast Asia, and the Persian Gulf countries have always been a priority for the Russian Federation, he stressed.
"In recent years, the geopolitical situation has changed dramatically, we are forced to rebuild logistics chains, and we are actively engaged in this. We believe that by 2025 the cargo turnover in this direction should double to no less than 30 million tons. And by 2030 – up to 35 million tons. We are constantly working to increase trade turnover between friendly countries," Marat Khusnullin said. "And we are certainly interested in the development of this transport corridor."
In turn, Tatarstan's Rais Rustam Minnikhanov said that the international transport corridor "North-South" is a key element of the transport framework of Eurasia.
"The transport corridor is of particular importance for the Eurasian Economic Union as an important alternative corridor for economic development and as a response to the economic and political influence of the European Union. The countries located along the North–South axis have been showing interest in cooperation with the EAEU since May 2018, when the free trade agreement with Iran was signed. Similar free trade negotiations are underway between the EAEU and India. There is also interest in other countries of South Asia and the Persian Gulf. In addition, there is a significant potential for connecting the North-South corridor with latitudinal transport routes," Rustam Minnikhanov said.
He also noted that the launch of the North-South corridor contributes to the creation of a macro-regional transport and logistics system – the Eurasian Transport Structure. This, in turn, lays the foundation for the development of trade and investment relations within Eurasia and meets the long-term economic interests of many countries of the Eurasian continent, in particular those that have no access to the sea.
Today, the EAEU's turn to the South and the early introduction of the North-South ITC are of particular importance in the light of sharp global geopolitical shifts and the need to reconfigure supply chains in Eurasia. In addition to expanding trade, the development of the transport corridor encourages the construction of dry ports, industrial parks and SEZs along transit routes. It will facilitate cooperation in the production of goods and services, accelerate the creation of new production and logistics chains between the members of the Eurasian Economic Union and the major developing countries of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, including Iran, India and Pakistan.
"As you know, Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin this year approved a new Concept of the country's foreign policy. In particular, it says that Russia is striving to transform Eurasia into a single continental space,"
Rustam Minnikhanov reminded. - To achieve this, it is planned to strengthen the economic and transport interconnectedness of Eurasia, including through the early launch of the international transport corridor "North – South". Rustam Minnikhanov stressed that the development of this direction is still hindered by a lot of problems. These are not only unresolved technical and economic issues, but also political issues related to the uneven relations of a number of countries with each other, as well as security issues and other hindering factors.
"Tatarstan is ready to provide the necessary assistance in the implementation of the project, will integrate into this international transport system. During our foreign trips and meetings, the topic of transport corridors and logistics is always discussed. Last year we visited Iran and saw how much the Iranian side is interested in the development of this direction. The same can be said about Turkmenistan, and about Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan. Therefore, these issues are the most important."
Rustam Minnikhanov expressed confidence that the North–South transport corridor, with proper development, will become one of the key elements of transport logistics in Eurasia, and today it is necessary to work more actively in this direction.
