Turkmenistan and Iran Begin Construction of the Gumdag–Atrak Highway
Farzaneh Sadegh, Minister of Roads and Urban Development of the Islamic Republic of Iran and co-chair of the Intergovernmental Iran-Turkmenistan Commission on Economic Cooperation, has concluded her visit to Turkmenistan. The key practical outcome of the negotiations was the decision to begin construction of the strategic Gumdag–Atrak (Etrek) highway within the next two months.
The implementation of this infrastructure project in Turkmenistan by an experienced Iranian contractor aims to optimize road transport logistics, significantly facilitate the movement of heavy freight vehicles, and increase the throughput capacity of cross-border routes. Ashgabat and Tehran emphasize that this highway serves mutual interests and will become a vital link in the development of the region's national road network.
During the talks in Avaza, the Iranian delegation held a series of meetings with their Turkmen counterparts, including the Chairperson of the Mejlis, Dunyagozel Gulmanova. The parties reviewed the implementation status of previously reached agreements in detail, focusing on the development of inter-parliamentary dialogue, synergy in the energy sector, and the export of high-tech engineering and technical services.
Particular attention was paid to boosting transit potential in rail and road transport. Farzaneh Sadegh noted the positive performance of border terminals and emphasized Turkmenistan's pivotal role as a key logistics hub for the transshipment of transit cargo across Eurasia.
The development of bilateral infrastructure is being viewed within the context of broader regional cooperation. In particular, the parties discussed advancing trilateral cooperation formats involving Azerbaijan and Russia, which are helping to build a robust economic framework for the international transport system.
The talks confirmed that consultations between Turkmenistan and Iran are reaching a qualitatively new level of practical implementation, laying a long-term foundation for sustainable economic growth, transit, and good-neighborly relations.
