Saeed Rasouli, Deputy Minister of Transport, Minister of
Roads and Urban Development and Head of the Ports and Maritime Organization, in
the panel on transport and transit cooperation and technical and engineering
services of the "Third Economic Conference of the Caspian Sea Coastal
Countries", explained the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran
regarding the planning and implementation of a short-term, low-cost and
quick-return joint action plan and synergy of the Caspian Sea coastal countries
in order to maximize the use of the existing infrastructure capacities and
facilities of all transportation sectors and a developmental perspective on the
infrastructure and equipment needed in order to jumpstart transportation and
transit exchanges.
He pointed out that countries should make maximum use of
economic, trade, transport and transit agreements and understandings related to
corridors in order to commercialize and make attractive maritime, road and rail
transport routes in the east-west and north-south directions of the Caspian Sea
and its hinterland in the south, east, west and north of the Caspian Sea.
Rasouli added: Supporting knowledge-based companies in the
effective use of capacities such as the TIR Carnet Convention, especially the
electronic TIR (E-TIR), the CMR Convention and its electronic form (E-CMR), the
Commonwealth of Independent States Rail Transport Council, the OTIF
Organization, the CIM and SMGS Conventions, and new electronic and digital
technologies are emphasized to integrate transport and customs systems,
eliminate document barriers, and exchange information electronically.
He suggested that capable companies from the Caspian Sea
littoral countries play an effective role in defining joint work in this field.
The Deputy Minister of Transport for Roads and Urban
Development said to the audience of this meeting: Currently, there are some
physical and process barriers on the common borders that can be removed with
low-cost organizational measures and process improvements. The elimination of
these physical barriers at the common borders is based on the transcendent
concept of an unhindered and non-stop border crossing, and requires the will
and effective coordination of the parties.
He emphasized: "More use of shipping
capacities, the creation of deeper and more commercial lines, and increasing
the possibility of container shipping in the Caspian Sea require specialized
equipment for unloading containers, as well as the necessary system and
infrastructure in ports to clear containers outside the port”