Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
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Alexey Overchuk took part in the trilateral meeting between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran.
A meeting between representatives of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Islamic Republic of Iran was held in the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The meeting focused on infrastructure cooperation and strengthening transport connectivity in the region. The Russian delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, the Azerbaijani delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, and the Iranian delegation was led by Minister of Transport and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadeq.
During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of developing joint solutions to create a comfortable and seamless environment for carriers, exporters, and importers as part of the development of the western route of the North-South international transport corridor.
According to the Federal Customs Service of Russia, 176,761 international vehicles crossed the Russian-Azerbaijani border in the first half of 2025, a 10% increase compared to the same period last year. Freight turnover increased by 13% to 6.8 million tons.
"We've taken measures at some of the automobile checkpoints located on the Russian-Azerbaijani border that have increased their throughput capacity fivefold: from 400 to 1,900 trucks per day," noted Alexey Overchuk.
Following the completion of the reconstruction of the Novo-Filya, Tagirkent-Kazmalyar, and Yarag-Kazmalyar automobile checkpoints, the total throughput capacity for freight transport on the Russian side will be 3,000 vehicles per day.
Projects to build bypasses around the cities of Astrakhan, Makhachkala, Derbent, and Khasavyurt are being implemented on Russian territory.
In the area of railway infrastructure, the Russian side is working to convert the Derbent-Samur-state border corridor to an AC traction system and construct a railway checkpoint in Derbent. At the end of last year, an intergovernmental cooperation agreement was signed with the Republic of Azerbaijan to develop transit traffic along the North-South International Transport Corridor.
Implementation of the 2023 agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran on the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway section continues. In May 2025, the Russian side began conducting preliminary surveys, conducting reconnaissance of the area, and work is underway to establish a geodetic reference network.
"To increase the attractiveness of the western route of the North-South International Transport Corridor, it is important for us to develop a harmonized transport infrastructure between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran and create equal conditions for all bona fide carriers crossing the state border," stated Alexey Overchuk.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that this work is driven by growing trade and economic ties between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran.
Trade between the two countries is showing steady growth. Russian imports from Azerbaijan increased by 9.5% in the first seven months of 2025, reaching $742.4 million. Trade with the Islamic Republic of Iran increased by 13.3% in 2024 and by 11.8% in the first seven months of 2025, reaching $2.7 billion.
The Free Trade Agreement between the EAEU and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which entered into force on May 15, 2025, gave a special impetus to trade relations.
"If we look at the statistics from May to July 2025, that is, from the moment the free trade zone with the EAEU began operating, we are already seeing a 35% increase in trade turnover," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized, noting that the first meeting of the Joint Committee for the Implementation of the Free Trade Agreement was held on September 24, following which a plan for joint activities on trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU and Iran for 2025–2028 was adopted.
Alexey Overchuk noted that the strategic goal of joint infrastructure work is to ensure seamless logistics from the Barents and Baltic Seas to the Persian Gulf, which will create the best competitive conditions for producers, exporters, and importers in the three countries.
"This is the work that gives our economies additional opportunities to expand, creates new jobs, increases incomes, and improves people's lives," said the Deputy Prime Minister.
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