Tripartite Agreement Set for New Transit Corridor Linking Russia's Tatarstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan

A tripartite agreement for a new transit corridor connecting Russia's Tatarstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan is scheduled to be signed in May at the Kazanforum, serving as an alternative to the North-South route amid conflicts in Iran.

Rostam Habibulin, head of the Russian Trade Center in Afghanistan, stated on Thursday that the corridor will provide a new route for goods between Russia and Afghanistan, benefiting companies from Europe and Asia.

Nuraldin Azizi, Taliban Minister of Industry and Commerce, is a main supporter of the initiative, which aims to enable direct shipments from Tatarstan to Afghanistan. Oleg Korobchenko, Tatarstan Minister of Industry and Commerce, is closely following the matter.

The project taps into Afghanistan's expanding market for Tatarstan's halal products. Afghanistan imported $51.7 million worth of such products from Tatarstan in 2025, a significant increase from previous years, with most shipments previously routed indirectly through Central Asia.

First direct shipments via the new corridor are planned, enhancing trade links between the regions.