AZE.US
Russia is prepared to provide credit financing for the International North-South Transport Corridor, part of which runs through Azerbaijan, President Vladimir Putin said.
Putin said Moscow has kept the necessary financial resources available and is ready to direct them toward the project. He made the remarks during the plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club.
The Russian president said he remains in contact with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and that Baku views the corridor as a promising project. His comments on Azerbaijan’s support were also reported by APA.
Iranian Section Remains the Bottleneck
Putin said the next steps depend on Iran completing its part of the work, including acquiring land for the missing railway infrastructure.
The corridor is intended to connect Russia with Persian Gulf ports through Azerbaijan and Iran. Completion of the missing railway connection in Iran is central to making the western branch fully operational.
Putin did not specify the amount of the possible Russian credit, when it would be disbursed or when the unfinished work would be completed.
Azerbaijan’s Transit Role
Azerbaijan’s rail and logistics network is the central link in the corridor’s western route. The project is designed to create a shorter overland connection among Russia, the South Caucasus, Iran and markets in South Asia.
For Azerbaijan, the corridor could increase transit traffic and generate additional demand for its railways, ports and logistics hubs.
The project’s practical effect, however, depends on the synchronized completion of infrastructure across all participating countries, particularly the unfinished section in Iran.
Putin’s statement confirms Russia’s political and financial interest in the route while also underscoring that the timetable for a fully functioning corridor remains tied to construction and land-acquisition work outside Azerbaijan.