MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The importance of the international North-South transport corridor will increase given the current instability in the Red Sea, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said in an interview with Expert magazine.

"The main focus is on the development of the North-South international transportation corridor. <...> The North-South is the shortest route, running entirely via friendly countries' territories. Given what is seen in the Red Sea region, the North-South will gain global significance and supply Europe with cargo on more favorable terms," he said.

Overchuk recalled that Russia, together with Kazakhstan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, introduced regular railway services with access to the ports of the Indian Ocean in 2022. In addition, according to him, preparations are underway to begin construction of the missing Rasht-Astara railway section in Iran.