Moscow Sends Out Signals to Develop Unified Network

The future of international transport corridors (ITCs) became one of the central topics of discussion at the second "Russia - Central Asia" summit held in Dushanbe on October 9. The proposal is to unite them into a single network with unified rules.

TRANSPORT INTERCONNECTIVITY OF COUNTRIES

The initiative was presented by Russian President Vladimir Putin. "A key task is the development of the North-South and East-West main routes passing through our countries' territories, as well as the construction of new transcontinental corridors. Eventually, all these and other Eurasian logistics projects could be combined into a single network with modern electronic services and transport facilities. This would multiply the volume of international transport through our common region," he stated.

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed developing a unified digital map which integrates the transport and logistics systems of CIS countries. In his opinion, it "will allow for the integration of national infrastructure plans and create a cohesive transport interconnectivity space, providing conditions to attract large-scale investments."

It's worth noting that work in this direction is already underway. On July 10, 2025, a meeting of the expert group was held in Moscow to coordinate the draft strategy for digitalization of the main multimodal transport corridors of CIS member states. After approval at the expert level, a decision was made to submit the project for consideration by the Commonwealth's highest bodies.

INDUSTRIAL INTEGRATION

The transport agenda saw further development during Vladimir Putin's press conference, where he noted that one of the current challenges is "not to lose the competitive advantages that emerged from the creation of unified logistics and unified cooperation in the former USSR." According to Marat Zembatov, Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research at the HSE University's Institute of Public Administration and member of the BRICS Business Council transport subgroup, the further development of the CIS transport and logistics complex will be inextricably linked with the unification of digital procedures and control parameters at border crossings, the development of common approaches, and the convergence of legal positions in cargo insurance and through-rate formation.

Vladimir Putin is once again conveying the idea that Moscow does not view Eurasian routes in a competition model like "North-South versus East-West," says Alexander Karavaev, an expert at the Caspian Institute for Strategic Studies. "There is an understanding that a developed multidirectional network stimulates the regional economy—meaning it benefits industrial integration," he notes.

A similar approach is applied in the EAEU. According to Alexander Karavaev, the Eurasian Commission's documents and decisions on transport infrastructure development focus on linking East-West and North-South routes within the framework of integration with China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative.

Member countries at the summit traditionally focused attention on the North-South International Transport Corridor. According to Marat Zembatov, preparations are now being finalized for a commercial contract covering the Iranian Rasht-Astara railway section, which will complete the crucial missing link in the western route of the transport corridor. At a briefing on September 11, Amin Taraffo, head of the Center for International Relations at Iran's Ministry of Transport and Urban Development, stated that an agreement to begin construction of the Rasht-Astara railway is expected soon. According to him, Iranian and Russian companies are in the process of coordinating the project. Half of the land plots for construction have already been purchased, and the remaining part is expected to be acquired by March, allowing construction to begin next year.

Dmitry Koptev