TEHRAN — About 5.5 million tons of goods have been transited via Iran in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (which began on March 21), an official said.

The Iranian government's special representative for transit affairs announced here on Wednesday that of the mentioned figure 91 percent have been transited by country’s roads.

 Shahryar Afandizadeh added that the main transited goods via Iran are fuel products, construction materials, passenger and loading vehicles, foodstuffs, and fertilizers.

The Iranian government's special representative for transit affairs had also announced last week that the government is seeking to accelerate expansion of the country's transit lines.

The deputy road and urban development minister added that the government has approved expediting plans to expand road and railway links across the country, especially in the bordering provinces.

He said given the country's unique geographical position, Iran can potentially transit a minimum volume of 40 million tons of goods annually.

The official further noted the economic boom of the Central Asian states in the last decade, and said that the government has paid more attention to these countries in expanding Iran's transit lines.

He said Iran can potentially transit 9 million tons of goods and products from the CIS and Russia to Africa, South Asia and the Middle-East via the Persian Gulf.

Iran can also transit 10 million tons of Chinese goods destined for Europe through the northern parts of the country and transfer 4 million tons of Indian exports to the Middle-East and Europe via central Iran and the Persian Gulf.

He said the abovementioned points and much other potential that the country has in the transit sector require the government to work hard to speed up transit expansion in the country.

In recent years, Iran has approved and implemented many projects to expand the country's transit lines.

HL

MNA

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