Uzbekistan and Türkiye have agreed to introduce regular container train services along the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Türkiye railway corridor.

The agreement was reached during the fourth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council held in Ankara, which was co-chaired by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

The newly established rail route is set to become a crucial component of the logistics network linking Central Asian countries with European markets. Its primary objective is to strengthen the resilience of regional trade flows. Officials expect the corridor to speed up export shipments, lower logistics costs for businesses, and ensure more stable and predictable cargo transit schedules.

The initiative forms part of broader modern efforts aimed at reviving the historic Silk Road as a major trade artery.

Forecasts indicate that cargo transportation along this route will take nearly half the time required for maritime shipping via the Suez Canal, significantly increasing its appeal for exporters and logistics operators.

The institutional basis for launching the route is the protocol adopted at a multilateral meeting of transport authorities from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Türkiye, which was signed on November 3, 2023.