The port infrastructure of Astrakhan Region is poised to become a transit hub for African cargo within the framework of the North-South International Transport Corridor (ITC). Vladimir Golovkov, the region's Minister of External Relations, shared this vision with the "African Initiative."
"The North-South International Transport Corridor can emerge as a new route for transporting goods from Russia across the Caspian Sea through Iran to African countries, facilitating cargo flow in both directions. As a powerful transit center on the Caspian, Astrakhan Region has all the necessary capabilities to become a transport and logistics hub for African imports and exports," he noted.
According to Golovkov, regional ports are already showing consistent growth: handling 4.5 million tons in 2023 and over 6 million tons in 2024, a level of performance unseen for over a decade.
Astrakhan Region boasts two seaports with a combined capacity of 16 million tons, open to both Russian and international vessels year-round. Ongoing modernization of existing facilities and construction of new cargo terminals are part of the plans. Additionally, the region has established the Caspian Cluster, featuring two special economic zones—industrial and port. The latter remains the only one of its kind in Russia, attracting residents who are developing container, grain, and refrigeration terminals, Golovkov explained.
Prospects for Astrakhan Export
Golovkov pointed out that key export areas to African countries could include agricultural products, canned vegetables and fish, and industrial goods.
"In addition to food products, we are ready to offer industrial goods. Products from the Astrakhan Net-Knitting Factory, which manufactures a wide range of fishing gear and equipment, may generate particular interest," the minister specified.
The region is also ready to share expertise in aquaculture, including the extraction and processing of aquatic bioresources, feed production, and training of specialists.
Golovkov emphasized that Astrakhan Region is already establishing cooperation with several African countries. He identified Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Cameroon, and Algeria as promising partners.
"Astrakhan Region is keen to develop comprehensive ties with African countries. We are open to proposals and the implementation of joint projects," the minister stressed.
The North-South International Transport Corridor is a multimodal route extending from Saint Petersburg to the Indian port of Mumbai, conceived as a shorter and cheaper alternative to the Suez Canal. The corridor idea emerged in 1999 and was formalized in 2000 through an agreement between Russia, Iran, and India, with 11 additional countries, including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, joining the project later. The corridor was officially launched in 2002, but due to infrastructural challenges, it initially only supported the Russia-Iran route. In 2016, the first successful transit of containers from India to Russia via Iran was conducted.
In September 2023, Astrakhan Region's Governor Igor Babushkin described linking the transport corridor to the African continent as a "new ambitious challenge" and expressed willingness to utilize the region's ports for the transportation of goods to and from Africa.
In October 2024, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov stated that Tanzania could serve as a single entry point for Russian products into the African market, furthering the development of the North-South corridor.
Buinta Bembeyeva