Gilan Province planning Rasht-Oman air cargo route to boost exports
Gilan Governor General Hadi Haqshenas announced on Thursday that authorities are working with airlines to launch an air cargo route from Rasht to Oman, aiming to expand the northern province’s export capacity.
“With the cooperation of airlines, we are planning to establish an air cargo line from Rasht Airport to Oman to activate air exports,” IRNA quoted Haqshenas as saying.
He added that the planned Rasht-Oman route, along with the completion of the Rasht-Astara railway, would further facilitate exports of the province’s agricultural products to global markets.
Trade between Iran and Oman reached $1.153 billion in the first five months of the Iranian calendar year (began on March 21), marking an 11% increase from a year earlier, with Iran’s exports — up 16% — driving most of the growth, according to Mehr News Agency.
According to the Gilan governor general, between 400 and 500 trucks currently enter or leave the province daily, and the provincial goal is to raise that figure to 800.
He underscored the importance of export standardization, warning, “If within the next two years products such as kiwifruit lack traceability documents and QR codes, many countries will stop accepting them.”
He pointed to a recent instance in which part of a bell pepper shipment was returned, calling it a proof that “our production must be based on scientific principles and global standards.”
“The development of processing and complementary industries — the missing link in agricultural value-added — can help reduce waste and improve productivity,” the governor said.
Haqshenas also described the Rasht-Astara railway as one of the country’s key development priorities, noting that 90 kilometers of the route have been cleared so far, including 70 kilometers in the past six months.
He expressed hope that upon completion, the line, which is part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), would allow Gilan to export goods directly by rail to international destinations.