Gilan Positioned as Key Hub for Expanding Iran–Russia Trade

TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking at the session hosted by the Gilan Chamber of Commerce, Saman Nazari Mo’afi, head of the Rasht Chamber, emphasized the province’s unique geographical and logistical advantages, noting that Gilan serves as a critical gateway for Iran’s trade with Russia and the wider Eurasian region.

“Gilan’s land, sea, and air routes already handle much of our bilateral trade and transit. With further development of rail infrastructure, these exchanges will expand significantly,” Nazari said.

He acknowledged logistical, financial, and regulatory challenges but expressed confidence that the new cooperation framework will help resolve them. “The Gilan Chamber is fully prepared to facilitate implementation of the agreement and to welcome Russian investors and traders,” he added.

Gilan has been designated by Tehran as the lead province for fostering economic ties with Russia and members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). To strengthen these connections, Rasht will host a Caspian Littoral Governors’ Summit in November, with participation from senior national officials, governors of three northern and four southern Iranian provinces, and business leaders from Caspian Sea countries.

On the sidelines of the summit, two major events will take place in the Anzali Free Zone: a B2B forum and an international trade and production expo, featuring 200 booths for domestic and foreign firms. Nazari invited Russian companies in sectors such as foodstuffs, agricultural products, environmental technologies, detergents, auto parts, animal feed, construction materials, grains, cooking oils, and wood-based industries to participate.

The Rasht Chamber plans to launch a smart digital platform to connect Iranian and Russian businesses and establish a bilateral commercial database. Special cultural events, including “A Day of Russia in Iran” and “A Day of Iran in Russia,” are also planned to foster people-to-people ties.

Addressing concerns from the Russian delegation over high fees for Russian truck drivers at Iranian border terminals, Nazari pledged to work with provincial authorities to reduce costs and streamline cross-border transit. “Both countries are under unjust sanctions and must avoid creating additional barriers for each other,” he said.

Andrey Vadov, Russia’s Consul General in Rasht, underlined the strategic importance of Gilan in the North–South Transport Corridor, noting that more than 400 Russian truck drivers apply daily for transit permits to Iran.

Vadov called the upcoming Caspian summit and expo a “golden opportunity” to strengthen commercial partnerships and investment flows between the two countries. He highlighted ongoing Russian exports to Iran, including wheat, barley, corn, and 900,000 tons of sunflower oil in the first half of 2025, as well as pulses, meat, and potentially confectionery products under the new cooperation framework.