Bandar Abbas: Uzbekistan’s key access route to international waters

Pars Today — Bandar Abbas, in southern Iran, has become Uzbekistan’s primary access point to international markets, elevating Iran–Uzbekistan economic cooperation from simple trade to sustainable logistical partnerships and investment.

Bilateral trade between Iran and Uzbekistan has nearly doubled over the past five years, rising from $250 million to almost $500 million, with both countries targeting $2 billion.

According to Pars Today, over 250 Iranian companies have established or expanded operations in Uzbekistan. Iran’s free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union has reduced tariffs, allowing the exchange of 10 goods duty-free. Exemptions on truck tariffs have lowered transportation costs, and the North–South Corridor, leveraging Bandar Abbas, provides a stable multimodal route for landlocked Uzbekistan.

Recent trade developments and joint economic roadmap

A recent trade conference and the two-year roadmap of the Iran–Uzbekistan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission have strengthened joint projects in agriculture, construction, and the food industry.

New Belarus–Iran rail route in the North–South corridor

A new container rail route linking Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran will soon become operational, reducing transit time to approximately two weeks.

This route, part of the North–South Corridor, offers a fast and reliable option, diversifies Belarusian exports, and enhances connections with West Asian markets, especially Iran.

Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development has expressed Tehran’s readiness to expand transit with Minsk. The North–South Corridor links Iran to Europe and Russia via the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Caspian, playing a key role in regional trade.