Iran annually transits 12M tons of goods through 24 terminals
ILNA: Iran currently owns 24 active border terminals, through which some 15 million passengers pass annually, Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Davoud Keshavarzian said.
He added that some ۱۲ million metric tons of goods are also transited through the border terminals annually.
Keshavarzian, also the head of Islamic Republic of Iran Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, went on to note that Iran enjoys a strategic advantage of having borders with seven countries.
“Annually ۱۳۵,۰۰۰ trucks pass through the border between Iran and Azerbaijan, ” he said, adding that ۵۰,۰۰۰ of the mentioned figure pass through Bilehsavar border terminal, located in the northwestern province of Ardebil.
He made the remarks at the inauguration ceremony of Bilehsavar terminal’s passenger hall.
The hall came on stream at final cost of ۱۲۰ billion rials(some $۳.۷۵ million based on the exchange rate of US dollar at the free market).
“Annually one million passengers pass through Bilehsavar terminal, ” Keshavarzian added.
According to Ardebil province’s governor, some ۹۵۰,۰۰۰ Azerbaijanis and ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ Iranians passed through Bilehsavar border terminal in the previous Iranian calendar year(ended on March ۲۰).
Keshavarziad also added that Iran seeks to boost relations with Azerbaijan.
“Azerbaijan can also play an important role in expanding the economic relations between Iran and Russia, ” he noted.