Russian Railways Logistics is gaining a foothold in the African and Persian Gulf markets

Russian Railways Logistics and the International Congress of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs signed a cooperation memorandum at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

The document entails cooperation in realizing the transportation and logistics potential between Russia and the Persian Gulf and North African countries.

The document was signed by Dmitry Murev, General Director of JSC Russian Railways Logistics, and Anatoly Tkachuk, Head of the Center for International Projects and Programs of the International Congress of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ICPP).

The key goals of the collaboration include establishing logistics connections for effective management of import-export shipments, fostering partnerships with transportation, stevedoring, and infrastructure firms in the Persian Gulf and North Africa, and enhancing the economic viability and competitive edge of services that bolster Russia's international trade ties.

“Based on the current multimodal service at the North-South ITC, the company is prepared to collaborate on joint projects with potential African and Arab partners. We have already established cooperation with the largest ports of the Persian Gulf and North Africa, and are developing cooperation with Saudi Arabia," said Dmitry Murev, General Director of JSC RZD Logistics. The signing of the memorandum should attract additional attention to the ITC from foreign partners.

The regular North-South ITC cargo delivery service, launched by Russian Railways Logistics in October 2022, operates full container trains along the eastern route. This service connects with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, India, and the Persian Gulf countries. Departures are from the Chekhov and Selyatino stations of the Moscow Railroad.

In May 2023, RZD Logistics arranged a container train dispatch from Chelyabinsk to Bandar Abbas, broadening the service's geographic reach. Currently, individual container shipments along the ITC's western branch travel in the Moscow / St. Petersburg - Samur route through Azerbaijan and Iran to the final destinations.

Plans are also being developed to integrate the Iranian port of Chabahar with the North-South ITC, enabling enhanced connectivity between India and Russia through Iran. It is worth noting that India entered into a 10-year agreement with Iran on May 13, 2024, for the advancement and operation of this port.