Moscow: Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has declared the country's readiness to further expand transport capacity through its territory as part of the North-South Transport Corridor initiative. Bayramov made this announcement during a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, emphasizing the project's significance in enhancing transport and logistics connectivity among regional countries.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Bayramov highlighted Azerbaijan's active role in the development of the North-South Transport Corridor from its inception. The corridor, which connects major neighbors through Azerbaijan, is a key priority for the country. In recent years, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation have reached bilateral agreements concerning the Azerbaijani section of the corridor, and Bayramov confirmed that these agreements are being implemented according to schedule.

Azerbaijan plans to increase the volume of rail freight transported through its section of the North-South route to 5 million tons by 2028. Bayramov assured that there are no issues hindering this progress. He noted that the project is being implemented in stages, and once work in the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran is completed, Azerbaijan is prepared to expand its transport capacity if necessary.

The railway terminal in the Iranian city of Astara, built with Azerbaijani investments, plays a crucial role in the corridor. The construction of this terminal is nearly complete, with the facility's readiness officially estimated at 98 percent. The final handover procedures with the Iranian side are the last steps remaining for its completion.