ASHGABAT, November 15. /TASS/. Russia and the Caucasus nations are awaiting the swift completion of construction and upgrades on segments of the North-South International Transport Corridor to enable its full operation, according to the Chairman of the CIS Intergovernmental Council of Road Builders, who spoke to reporters.

"The North-South Corridor, in light of recent global developments, is becoming not just relevant, but absolutely essential," Buri Karimov stated. "Without this corridor, trade turnover will not grow. The Intergovernmental Council of Road Builders, along with Iran, the Caucasus nations, and Russia, are all highly invested in the prompt completion of the ongoing construction, renovation, and upgrades on certain segments, and in bringing this corridor to full operation," he added.

The goal of the North-South International Multimodal Transport Corridor project is to attract transit traffic from India, Iran, and Persian Gulf nations to Europe via Russian territory. The project currently integrates various transport systems across the involved countries.