Scientific and practical conference "Problems of development of the North-South MTK - logistical, political, economic, environmental, sanctions"

A scientific and practical conference in the format of a dispute "Problems of the development of the North-South MTK - logistical, political, economic, environmental, sanctions" will be held on March 25, 2026 in Moscow at the Holiday Inn Sokolniki Hotel.

    At the conference, experts will identify the problems of the North—South MTK development and find practical solutions to most of them.

The realities of the North-South MTK work:

    Currently, 6-7 million tons of export-import goods by road and rail cross the border with Iran every year along the western branch of the corridor through Azerbaijan and Armenia.

    The Caspian route, passing through the ports of Astrakhan, Oli, Makhachkala, as well as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, received about 8 million tons in 2025.

    The eastern route through Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan showed even better results: more than 9 million tons of cargo passed between Iran and Turkmenistan by rail and road crossings, of which about 5 million tons passed through Iran. Russian Railways Logistics is actively developing the route with regular container trains, and shipments from the Urals reach the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas in the Persian Gulf in just 9 days.

    New delivery services have been launched from Russia and CIS countries via Iran to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan by road and rail. In addition, the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway with a European gauge of 1520 mm with access to Pakistan and a connection through Herat with Iran has started.

    More than 100 transport companies from Russia and the CIS are successfully developing MTK routes, where cargo turnover is growing by 10-20% annually — without significant government investments or subsidies. Despite the successes, the companies note unused capacities and a shortage of cargo due to existing problems.

Alexander Sharov, General Director of Neftekhimtrans LLC and Rusiranexpo Group of Companies, and Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee, noted on the eve of the forum that the time had come to reconsider the initial concept of the North-South MTK project, formed more than a quarter of a century ago.

    The North-South MTK itself was conceived as a transit route between the countries of Northern Europe and India, but now this task is irrelevant. Sharov stressed that today it is necessary to focus on the export and import needs of Russia and the CIS countries.

    He cited the growing trade between Russia and the CIS countries with the UAE and the countries of the Middle East as an example of the existing potential. He asked about the creation of a hub on the Iranian coast in the port of Bandar Abbas for trade with the UAE, the Persian Gulf and East African countries, as this is now the real direction of the development of the North-South Trade Corridor.

    Alexander Sharov added that Rusiranexpo Group will participate in the International Transport and Logistics Forum, which will be held on April 1-3 at the Tavrichesky Palace in St. Petersburg, as a speaker and moderator of some sessions. The event will focus on the development of transport corridors, cargo and passenger logistics, tourism and digital services.

    Rusiranexpo will also participate in the Eurasia Expo Business Forum in Iran. Previously, this event was supposed to take place in February, but it was postponed to April due to the possible escalation of the Iranian-American conflict. At this event, Russian entrepreneurs will learn from their Iranian colleagues about their attitude to the North-South MTC and discuss with them the vision of the future project in Tehran.

The conference participants will also receive answers to some of their questions:

•     How can it be used now, taking into account the limitations of the North—South MTK along the western, trans-Caspian and eastern routes?
•     What problems arise when working for the North-South MTC: financial, insurance, legal, customs, sanctions?
•     The shallowing of the Caspian Sea and how it may affect shipping, are there serious risks for the development of the North-South trans-Caspian branch of the MTK?
•     What prevents the creation of effective sales systems for Russian products in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Middle Eastern countries, and how can Russia's "soft power" help this?

Conference sessions:

1.     - The problems and prospects of the development of the North-South MTK – political, economic, organizational, sanctions.
2.     - Offers from logistics companies in Russia, Iran, CIS countries, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan.
3.     - New tools and opportunities for international settlements in the face of sanctions pressure.
4.     - Shallowing of the Caspian Sea. Natural and climatic risks in the Caspian Sea.
5.     - Sales of Russian products in the markets of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia and East Africa.
6.     - The role of Russia's "soft power" in promoting Russian products and services.
7.     - Round table, format — short discussion presentations.

Conference participants: Political and economic experts on foreign economic activity from the countries of the Middle East and the global South, representatives of government and public structures, logistics, export-import, banking, financial, legal and consulting companies.

Tags: #mtk_severyug #logistics #Iran #Caspian #transport_coridor #conference #Russianexpo #geopolitics #sanctions

Edited Moderator (March 11, 2026 14:50:25)