Tajikistan and Turkmenistan Collaborate on Multimodal Corridor to Europe

Dushanbe, The Gulf Observer: Tajikistan’s Transport Minister, Azim Ibrohim, has instructed relevant agencies to organize a pilot train for the multimodal corridor spanning China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Türkiye, and Europe. This initiative aims to enhance connectivity and bolster trade across the region.

Minister Ibrohim underscored the importance of updating railway wagons and locomotives, advancing digitalization efforts within the sector, and constructing logistics centers, including the strategic Iranian port of Chabahar. Additionally, he highlighted the need to improve both the volume and quality of freight and passenger transportation and to build new transit railway lines.

This directive follows high-level discussions between the presidents of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Emomali Rahmon, held in Dushanbe in May 2023. During these talks, the transport sector was identified as a priority area for bilateral cooperation, with a focus on increasing efficiency and establishing new international transport corridors, notably the multimodal corridor from China to Europe via Central Asia and the Middle East.

The effective utilization of transport potential was also a prominent topic at the first Turkmenistan – Tajikistan – Uzbekistan summit, which took place in Ashgabat in August 2023. The summit reinforced the commitment of the involved nations to collaborate on enhancing regional connectivity and developing comprehensive transport solutions.

This initiative marks a significant step towards realizing the full potential of the multimodal corridor, promising to enhance trade, improve logistics, and foster greater economic integration across the region.