National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar discussed developing transport and logistics cooperation between the two countries, including the North-South and East-West international transport corridors and the Lapis Lazuli corridor, Turkmenistan state media reported on Tuesday.
The talks were held during Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s working visit to Afghanistan. The sides highlighted the important role of the International Seaport of Turkmenbashi in developing the region’s transport and logistics potential. According to Baradar, cooperation in this area would help strengthen bilateral and interregional ties.
Turkmenistan places significant importance on developing international transport and transit corridors and logistics centers. Key areas of cooperation include the North-South and East-West international transport corridors, as well as the Lapis Lazuli international transport corridor.
An agreement to establish the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Türkiye corridor was signed in Ashgabat in 2017. The multimodal route connects Central and South Asia with the Caspian, Black and Mediterranean Sea regions.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had previously put forward proposals to expand the use of the Lapis Lazuli corridor and improve its efficiency. The proposals included establishing a unified logistics center to ensure stable cargo flows and coordinate joint activities across participating countries, developing infrastructure at cargo departure and receiving points, including seaports, railway stations and road terminals, and introducing a unified pricing policy for transportation along the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Türkiye route and in the opposite direction.
According to the report, the proposals also included simplifying customs procedures through a single-window system and preparing a digital atlas of the transport route. The multimodal corridor helps strengthen connections between Central and South Asia and the Caspian, Black and Mediterranean Sea regions.
The talks also highlighted the importance of increasing contacts between the two countries’ business communities and holding joint exhibitions and business forums to develop trade and economic cooperation.
