Turkmenistan advocates for development of new transport corridors within CIS

ASHGABAT. Dec 18 (Interfax) - Turkmenistan is for the formation of new transit corridors in the CIS, while routes towards Iran and through the Caspian Sea are of particular importance for Ashgabat, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Hojamyrat Geldimyradov said at a meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of Government on Monday in Moscow.

"We consider the transport sector to be one of the main priorities for cooperation; a consistent increase in the volume of freight and passenger transportation. In this context, we advocate coordinated work with our partners to form new transit corridors and jointly enter large markets for transport services," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

"It is necessary to translate our competitive advantages, favorable geographical location, infrastructure compatibility, existing experience and traditions of cooperation into real action. This is dictated by the course of modern economic development, and the realities and pace of international competition in the transport and communications sectors," Geldimyradov said.

In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the special importance of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway and transport routes across the Caspian Sea.

"Projects such as the modern Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway have good prospects for expanding the volume and quality of trade and economic interaction between the CIS countries on the Eurasian continent. Not the least role in this context is given to the Caspian route, taking into account the presence of CIS member states' seaports," Geldimyradov said.