Bahrain and Qatar plan to restart work on the Qatar-Bahrain bridge project, according to a statement. Bahraini Prime Minister Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to discuss finalizing the plans on the bridge as well as improving cooperation between the two countries.

What bridge? The two countries had announced plans to build a 40km bridge which

links the northern region of Qatar to the eastern coast of Bahrain, but the project stalled after Bahrain — along with UAE, KSA and Egypt — severed ties with the country in 2017. The bridge is expected to reduce travel time between the countries by 30 minutes, and will feature a rail platform featuring four lanes.

Iran and Turkmenistan inked two USD 1 bn bilateral agreements to bolster trade through the construction of a 242 km road in Turkmenistan and the export of parts and equipment from Iran to support Turkmenistan’s power sector, Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim reported. Both sides also agreed to run direct flights connecting Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat with the Iranian city of Mashhad in addition to settling Iran’s outstanding gas debt to Turkmenistan through a barter agreement involving the construction of the road, Tasnim said.

Iran is also looking to reel Turkmenistan into its Iran Road initiative: Turkmenistan has a special place in Iran’s Road Initiative, Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash told Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedowon, Taisnim reported separately. The scheme looks to scrap transit and transport duties to encourage transit trade between the two countries. Such a scheme should benefit Turkmenistan by giving it access to open seas via Iran’s ports, Bazprash added.

Is a joint economic zone also on the table? Turkmenistan proposed that the two countries explore establishing an economic zone along the two countries’ border, in the Sarakhs and Incheh Borun regions, Iran’s official news agency IRNA quoted Turkeminstan’s Deputy Cabinet Chairman and Foreign Affairs Minister Rashid Meredov as saying.

Kuwait + Portugal sign MoU to regulate air transport between them: The Kuwaiti General Administration of Civil Aviation inked an MoU with its Portuguese counterpart to enhance and regulate air transportation operations, according to a statement. The agreement seeks to encourage more flights between Kuwait and Portugal, facilitate growth in commercial and cargo aviation, and increase trade.

KSA + Barbados sign air transport agreement: Saudi Transport and Logistics Services Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser and Barbadian Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds have signed an air transport agreement, Saudi press agency SPA reports. The contract will help air safety and civil aviation security standards for the two countries, as well as promote fair competition protocols. Al Jasser also met with Barbados’s Prime Minister Mia Mottley to build on areas of common interest in transport and logistics services, according to a separate statement.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

  • Iran + Kazakhstan discuss roadmap to bilateral trade: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri met with his Kazakh counterpart Alibek Bakayev to discuss finalizing a roadmap to boosting bilateral trade, as well as streamlining economic cooperation and trade exchange. (Tasnim)
  • Qatar’s Minister of Transportation Jassim Al Sulaiti met with Italian Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi to discuss expanding cooperation in transportation, ports, and civil aviation. (Statement)
  • Qatar and the EU held a second meeting to discuss the implementation of theircomprehensive air transport agreement, where they touched on fair competition between carriers, financial transparency, developing the air transport sector, labor rights, and sustainability. (QNA)
  • Saudi Transport and Logistics Services Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser discussed with Saint Lucia’s Infrastructure and Transport Minister Stephenson King boosting transport and logistics ties. (Statement)
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