Tehran, June 18 (MRUD NEWS)—White Nights of St. Petersburg hosted golden opportunities for regional cooperation through St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) where more than 130 countries attended the event to discuss economic and transport agendas and solutions for greater regional integration.
Iran Minister of Roads and Urban, Mehrdad Bazrpash, along with his delegation attended the event where in different panels, side meetings, and negotiations called for more regional cooperation for infrastructural development.
Particularly in the panel of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) in which transport minister of Russia, Azerbaijan, India, Kazakhstan, and Belarus as well as the interior ministers of Pakistan, Azerbaijan, representative and the Executive Director of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) in Eurasia participated, Bazrpash proposed for 'Iran Route' initiative, both as a route and as a solution for safe, secure, easy, fast and economical connections in the region through which different stakeholders can play role in the transit and logistics.
Unique geographical, infrastructural, technical expertise, logistics and transit advantages, as well as huge possibilities for investments have all made Iran as a unique opportunity for trade, logistics and transportation in the region which benefit different countries, Bazrpash said.
In the INSTC panel Bazarpash explained that economic and transport diplomacy of Iran is based primarily on expanding relations with the neighboring and regional countries through simultaneous development of transport infrastructure and facilitation of commercial laws and regulations. Moreover, activating the geo-political advantages and turning Islamic Republic of Iran into a hub for trade and commercial services, energy, communication and transportation is another top priority.
Iran transport minister also proposed various solutions for realizing the objectives of the INSTC. Participation of investors from the Russia, including on the part of cargo owners, transport and logistics companies in the completion and development projects of the southern ports of Iran on the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea was the first suggestion of Mehrdad Bazarpash.
Additionally, formation of joint logistics companies and small and medium-sized technological enterprises and new knowledge-based businesses, development of smart and digital technologies in transport and transit relations between the two countries, with emphasis on cargo monitoring systems, integrated use of electronic documents for international transportation, participation of the member countries in the construction and operation of logistics centers in the two countries, facilitating presence of logistics companies of Russia in Iran and joint actions for the development of shipping in the Caspian Sea with the priority of participation in the joint construction of vessels and launching regular and cheap shipping lines between ports of the two countries, were among other proposals of Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development in this meeting.
At the sidelines of the visit of Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development to St. Petersburg for the 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Bazrpash met with Syria Minister of Finance where the two sides followed up previous talks and agreement for cooperation in reconstruction of Syria particularly for electricity and rail infrastructures.
In meeting with the Governor of Volgograd, Bazrpash was invited to visit this city for conferring on promoting inter-provincial relations between Volgograd and Mazandaran.
Explaining the role of Volgograd along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), its Governor called for greater interactions as this city can be the logistic hub in Iran and Russia. Volgograd is known as 'a port of five seas' and has big industries and agricultural sectors.
Iran transport minister also welcomed the proposal for grater bilateral cooperation in different sectors.
St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is held annually since 1997 is one of the biggest and most important business events in the world. Over the past 25 years, the Forum has cemented its status as a leading international event focusing on key issues on the global economic agenda.