Iran offers transit discount for transfers from Central Asian countries
Goods transfered from Central Asian countries to Bandar Abbas - port by Persian Gulf in southern Iran - will recieve 35 percent transfer discount, Hossein Ashouri, an official with Iran's railroad organization said.
He added that Iran also gives 40 percent discount to the transfer of goods from Central Asia to Pakistan via the Iranian railroad, IRNA news agency reported August 17.
The official further said that a two-way discount is also to be given to the transfer of goods between Iran's northeastern border city of Sarakhs and Turkey.
He noted that Sarakhs is Iran's top transit border point and said it is estimated that during the current Iranian fiscal year (which started March 21), the checkpoint will see 150 percent rise in the transit volume.
He said if Iranian trains can travel to Central Asia via Turkmenistan, it will not only reduce transit costs, the time needed for carrying the goods will also reduce by 30 percent.
Each year, an average of 70 thousand wagons travel from CIS to Iran's Sarakhs checkpoint. This year, Iran launched a train from Sarakhs to Bandar Abbas, travelling the 1,620 kilometer distance in 54 hours.
Ashouri added that Iran and Turkmenistan have signed a contract whereby Iranian trains can travel through Turkmenistan.
Previously only Turkmen and Central Asian trains could travel in Turkmenistan.
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