[caption id="attachment_114581" align="alignright" width="221"] Flags of Iran & Azerbaijan[/caption]

Deputy minister of road and urban development, Davoud Keshavarzian signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on transportation with his Azerbaijan counterpart Aref Asgarev.

Based on the agreement, the two sides agreed to construct a new bridge on the Astara border and reduce tolls on transportation, IRNA reported.

Keshavarzian said following the signing ceremony that the two countries have good cooperation in the transportation sector and each year, over 40,000 lorries enter Azerbaijan Republic from Iran while 45,000 trucks enter in the other direction.

Underlining the significance of road transportation in expanding economic ties, he added that reducing transportation tolls will help promote trade between Iran and Azerbaijan Republic.

Asgarev, for his part, stressed the need to develop rail and road communications between the two countries, hoping that the deal will help strengthen cooperation in the transportation sector.

Describing the Rasht-Astara railroad project as 'important', he noted that the railroad will not only connect Azerbaijan Republic to Bandar Abbas, but also pave the ground for transferring European goods to the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea.

By Zawya