Tehran, October 25 (MRUD NEWS)—Iran and Belarus transport officials met in Tehran on October 25 to confer on the development of bilateral transport cooperation.
Iran deputy transport minister, Shahriyar Afandizadeh, hosted the Belarusian delegation headed by the head of the Directorate of Strategic Development and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Transport and communications of the Republic of Belarus.
The two sides discussed possibilities of rail and road transit and increase of transactions between the two countries by removing existing barriers based on mutual interests.
"Any investments in Iran's transport sector including the logistic centers which would develop capacities of ports, would benefit all involving countries", said Afandizadeh pointing to the annual 200 million tons exports by Russia.
Currently Iran's ports have 270 million tons capacities and the country enjoys good rail and road infrastructures with 12,000 km railways (plus 3000 km under construction) and 60,000 km roadways.
Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe and the access to the high seas are important for this country.
Belarus had access to the Black Sea through Ukraine but now the link is blocked due to the war.
For now, Belarus' connection towards China through the ports of the Baltic sea is limited and the country is seeking new routes and access.
Moreover, in the meeting, the two sides expressed willingness for exchanging transport technologies and research.
Head of Belarus delegation submitted the draft of MoU to Iran encompassing proposed area of cooperation.
Noteworthy, Belarus is preparing a maritime MoU with Russia which would be finalized by the end of year, as said by Belarus delegation.
The mutual negotiations of Iran and Belarus follow the visits of Iran's President, Ebrahim Raisi, and the President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, on the sidelines of 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Samarkand on 15–16 September 2022 and also during the 15th Iran-Belarus Joint Commission on July 28-29, 2022 in Minsk.