{"id":74989,"date":"2023-11-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2023\/11\/20\/bahrain-qatar-to-revive-stalled-bridge-project-iran-turkmenistan-eye-bolstering-trade-plus-more-from-ksa-kuwait-iran-and-qatar\/"},"modified":"2023-11-20T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T00:00:00","slug":"bahrain-qatar-to-revive-stalled-bridge-project-iran-turkmenistan-eye-bolstering-trade-plus-more-from-ksa-kuwait-iran-and-qatar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2023\/11\/20\/bahrain-qatar-to-revive-stalled-bridge-project-iran-turkmenistan-eye-bolstering-trade-plus-more-from-ksa-kuwait-iran-and-qatar\/","title":{"rendered":"Bahrain, Qatar to revive stalled bridge project + Iran, Turkmenistan eye bolstering trade. PLUS: More from KSA, Kuwait, Iran and Qatar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bahrain and Qatar plan to restart work on the Qatar-Bahrain <\/strong>bridge project<\/strong>, according to a statement<\/a>. 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. <\/p>\n

What bridge? <\/strong>The two countries had announced<\/a> plans to build a 40km bridge which <\/p>\n

links the northern region of Qatar to the eastern coast of Bahrain, but the project stalled after Bahrain \u2014 along with UAE, KSA and Egypt \u2014 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. <\/p>\n

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Iran and Turkmenistan inked t<\/strong>wo USD 1 bn bilateral agreements to bolster trade <\/strong>through the construction of a 242 km road in Turkmenistan and the export of parts and equipment from Iran to support Turkmenistan\u2019s power sector, Iran\u2019s semi-official news agency Tasnim<\/a> reported. Both sides also agreed to run direct flights connecting Turkmenistan\u2019s capital Ashgabat with the Iranian city of Mashhad in addition to settling Iran\u2019s outstanding gas debt to Turkmenistan through a barter agreement involving the construction of the road, Tasnim said.<\/p>\n

Iran is also looking to reel Turkmenistan into its Iran Road initiative:<\/strong> Turkmenistan has a special place in Iran\u2019s Road Initiative, Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash told Turkmenistan\u2019s President Serdar Berdimuhamedowon, Taisnim<\/a> 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\u2019s ports, Bazprash added.<\/p>\n

Is a joint economic zone also on the table? <\/strong>Turkmenistan proposed that the two countries explore establishing an economic zone along the two countries\u2019 border, in the Sarakhs and Incheh Borun regions, Iran\u2019s official news agency IRNA<\/a> quoted Turkeminstan\u2019s Deputy Cabinet Chairman and Foreign Affairs Minister Rashid Meredov as saying.<\/p>\n

Kuwait + Portugal sign MoU to regulate air transport between them:<\/strong> 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<\/a>. The agreement seeks to encourage more flights between Kuwait and Portugal, facilitate growth in commercial and cargo aviation, and increase trade. <\/p>\n

KSA + Barbados sign <\/strong>air transport agreement: <\/strong>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<\/a> 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\u2019s Prime Minister Mia Mottley to build on areas of common interest in transport and logistics services, according to a separate statement<\/a>. <\/p>\n

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-<\/strong><\/p>\n