Uzbekistan and Turkey launch transit container trains via Turkmenistan and Iran

Uzbekistan and Turkey have agreed to operate regular container trains along the Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Turkey route. The agreement was reached during the fourth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Ankara, chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, Upl.uz reported, citing Amir Sultanov, Head of the Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

The new route is considered an important part of the logistics chain connecting Central Asian countries with European markets and aims to strengthen regional trade stability.

The development of the railway route will accelerate export shipments, reduce logistics costs for businesses, and improve the reliability of cargo transportation.

The Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Turkey corridor is part of initiatives to revive the Silk Road. It is estimated that transit times could be twice as fast compared to the maritime route via the Suez Canal, making it more advantageous for exporters and logistics companies.

The institutional basis of the project was a multilateral meeting on November 3, 2023, where the relevant transport authorities of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Turkey signed a protocol.