TEHRAN – Iranian Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare Solat Mortazavi said Tehran and Ashgabat have set it on the agenda to expand cooperation for the development of transportation infrastructure in order to increase trade exchanges.

Mortazavi made the remarks following a meeting with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashit Owezgeldiyewich Meredow on Thursday, IRNA reported.

Speaking in this meeting, Mortazavi said the two countries have historical, cultural, and religious roots and commonalities that can facilitate economic cooperation.

The 13th government and President Ebrahim Raisi's special foreign policy approach is paying special attention to the neighbors, the official said.

“We follow developing relations with Turkmenistan more sensitively”, he stated, adding that cooperation between the two countries should be developed in all fields, especially in the economic and infrastructure areas.

Meanwhile, Meredow referred to the good relations between the two countries and existing cultural commonalities, saying that the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Committee is a suitable platform for finding solutions for developing economic relations and removing obstacles to cooperation.

He added that the public and private sectors of Turkmenistan are also fully prepared to hold an exclusive exhibition in Tehran.

Emphasizing the need to develop the road and rail transport infrastructure, the Turkmen Minister said the Islamic Republic of Iran can be a gateway for Central Asia’s access to the Persian Gulf states.

TEHRAN – Senior officials from Iran and Turkmenistan’s oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors have held talks on the sidelines of the Islamic Republic’s 14th special exhibition in Ashgabat, to explore avenues of mutual cooperation, Shana reported.

Headed by Deputy Oil Minister for Engineering, Research, and Technology Vahid-Reza Zeidifard, the Iranian delegation met and discussed cooperation in various areas with the representatives of Turkmenistan’s national oil, gas and petrochemical companies in separate meetings.

Speaking in the meeting with the deputy head of Turkmenistan’s national gas company Türkmengaz, Zeidifard introduced the capabilities of Iranian companies active in the oil industry and emphasized the development and cooperation between the two countries.

Pointing to the fact that over 70 percent of the equipment and items used in the Iranian oil industry are manufactured by domestic producers, the official proposed to help Turkmenistan by supplying the country with such equipment.

Expressing the Islamic Republic’s readiness for building refineries, developing oil and gas fields, and supplying high-quality parts and equipment at a competitive price to the Turkmen parties, he invited the oil and gas officials of Turkmenistan to visit Iran to get familiar with the capabilities of the country’s oil industry.

The Turkmen side for his part welcomed the presence of Iranian companies, especially from the Oil Ministry, in this exhibition, expressing hope that the cooperation between the two friendly and brotherly countries would develop.

In another meeting, the vice president of the country’s national oil company Türkmennebit underlined the Iranian oil industry’s ability and capacity, saying: “We will be happy to see the names of more Iranian companies in Turkmenistan in the near future.”

The representative of Turkmenistan’s state chemical company Turkmenhimiya also said in his meeting with the Iranian delegation that very good suggestions have been made for cooperation between the two sides and the company is eager to cooperate with Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) for the benefit of both countries.

At the end of the meetings, it was decided that the Turkmen parties should provide Iran with a list of the equipment and parts needed by their oil industry through diplomatic authorities so that the Iranian side can take action to supply them.

Iran’s 14th exclusive exhibition kicked off in Turkmenistan’s capital city Ashgabat on February 14 and was wrapped up on Friday.

TEHRAN – Senior officials from Iran and Turkmenistan’s oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors have held talks on the sidelines of the Islamic Republic’s 14th special exhibition in Ashgabat, to explore avenues of mutual cooperation, Shana reported.

Headed by Deputy Oil Minister for Engineering, Research, and Technology Vahid-Reza Zeidifard, the Iranian delegation met and discussed cooperation in various areas with the representatives of Turkmenistan’s national oil, gas and petrochemical companies in separate meetings.

Speaking in the meeting with the deputy head of Turkmenistan’s national gas company Türkmengaz, Zeidifard introduced the capabilities of Iranian companies active in the oil industry and emphasized the development and cooperation between the two countries.

Pointing to the fact that over 70 percent of the equipment and items used in the Iranian oil industry are manufactured by domestic producers, the official proposed to help Turkmenistan by supplying the country with such equipment.

Expressing the Islamic Republic’s readiness for building refineries, developing oil and gas fields, and supplying high-quality parts and equipment at a competitive price to the Turkmen parties, he invited the oil and gas officials of Turkmenistan to visit Iran to get familiar with the capabilities of the country’s oil industry.

The Turkmen side for his part welcomed the presence of Iranian companies, especially from the Oil Ministry, in this exhibition, expressing hope that the cooperation between the two friendly and brotherly countries would develop.

In another meeting, the vice president of the country’s national oil company Türkmennebit underlined the Iranian oil industry’s ability and capacity, saying: “We will be happy to see the names of more Iranian companies in Turkmenistan in the near future.”

The representative of Turkmenistan’s state chemical company Turkmenhimiya also said in his meeting with the Iranian delegation that very good suggestions have been made for cooperation between the two sides and the company is eager to cooperate with Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) for the benefit of both countries.

At the end of the meetings, it was decided that the Turkmen parties should provide Iran with a list of the equipment and parts needed by their oil industry through diplomatic authorities so that the Iranian side can take action to supply them.

Iran’s 14th exclusive exhibition kicked off in Turkmenistan’s capital city Ashgabat on February 14 and was wrapped up on Friday.

As many as 70 Afghan businesspeople held B2B meetings with their Iranian counterparts in Tehran on Monday.

The visit to Tehran by the Afghan delegation, one of the biggest private sector delegations to the Iranian capital from the country, has been organized and sponsored by Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives from some 70 Iranian companies were also present in the event where they had B2B meetings with the Afghan businesspeople.

Speaking on the sidelines of the big private sector gathering of the two neighboring countries, Head of Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce Hossein Salimi expressed hope that this event will help enhance economic exchanges between Tehran and Kabul.

Referring to more investments of Afghan people in Iran, he said that these investments are expected to even more grow.

In the meantime, Abdul Qayyum Soleimani, caretaker of the Afghan embassy in Tehran, said that Afghan people expect Iran to facilitate more exports from Afghanistan into the country.

He also referred to Afghanistan’s need for Iran’s more partnership in its projects, calling on the Iranian government to further help prepare the ground for the investment of the Iranian businesspeople in Afghanistan. 

As many as 70 Afghan businesspeople held B2B meetings with their Iranian counterparts in Tehran on Monday.

The visit to Tehran by the Afghan delegation, one of the biggest private sector delegations to the Iranian capital from the country, has been organized and sponsored by Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives from some 70 Iranian companies were also present in the event where they had B2B meetings with the Afghan businesspeople.

Speaking on the sidelines of the big private sector gathering of the two neighboring countries, Head of Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce Hossein Salimi expressed hope that this event will help enhance economic exchanges between Tehran and Kabul.

Referring to more investments of Afghan people in Iran, he said that these investments are expected to even more grow.

In the meantime, Abdul Qayyum Soleimani, caretaker of the Afghan embassy in Tehran, said that Afghan people expect Iran to facilitate more exports from Afghanistan into the country.

He also referred to Afghanistan’s need for Iran’s more partnership in its projects, calling on the Iranian government to further help prepare the ground for the investment of the Iranian businesspeople in Afghanistan. 

Iran and Pakistan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost bilateral efforts that could lead to a quick expansion of trade ties between the two neighboring countries.

The MoU was signed on Monday on the sidelines of an Iranian trade exhibition in the Pakistani city of Karachi between head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Alireza Paymanpak and head of The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Muhammad Zubair Motiwala.

The agreement allows Iran and Pakistan to exchange trade information while enabling businesses to increase their presence in trade events held in the two countries, according to a report published on the TPO’s website.

It said the MoU will also facilitate the exchange of trade delegations and experts between Iran and Pakistan, adding that trade authorities of the two countries will be committed under the agreement to holding training courses for businesses involved in bilateral trade.

Peymanpak expressed hope upon signing the document that it could help Iran and Pakistan soon reach a target of $5 billion in bilateral trade.

The signing of the MoU comes days after local authorities in border regions of Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement to boost cross-border trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

It also comes amid Iran’s continued efforts to expand trade ties with neighbors as the country moves ahead with plans to diversify its economy away from oil revenues targeted by US sanctions.

Iran and Pakistan are currently on a preferential trade arrangement under which the two countries have sought to reduce some trade barriers and tariffs in recent years.

Media reports have suggested the two countries are seeking to sign a free trade agreement by March.

Iran and Pakistan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost bilateral efforts that could lead to a quick expansion of trade ties between the two neighboring countries.

The MoU was signed on Monday on the sidelines of an Iranian trade exhibition in the Pakistani city of Karachi between head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Alireza Paymanpak and head of The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Muhammad Zubair Motiwala.

The agreement allows Iran and Pakistan to exchange trade information while enabling businesses to increase their presence in trade events held in the two countries, according to a report published on the TPO’s website.

It said the MoU will also facilitate the exchange of trade delegations and experts between Iran and Pakistan, adding that trade authorities of the two countries will be committed under the agreement to holding training courses for businesses involved in bilateral trade.

Peymanpak expressed hope upon signing the document that it could help Iran and Pakistan soon reach a target of $5 billion in bilateral trade.

The signing of the MoU comes days after local authorities in border regions of Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement to boost cross-border trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

It also comes amid Iran’s continued efforts to expand trade ties with neighbors as the country moves ahead with plans to diversify its economy away from oil revenues targeted by US sanctions.

Iran and Pakistan are currently on a preferential trade arrangement under which the two countries have sought to reduce some trade barriers and tariffs in recent years.

Media reports have suggested the two countries are seeking to sign a free trade agreement by March.

Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will sign a free trade agreement on Jan. 18, 2023, the spokesman of the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade announced on Sunday.

Noting that the two sides currently exchange goods based on a preferential trade agreement, Omid Qalibaf added that EAEU has granted tariff concessions to 500 types of Iranian commodities while Iran has listed 400 types.

Asked about the impact of Iran’s import bans on EAEU trade deal, he said the ban will not be applied to imports from the Eurasian bloc.

“Prohibition on import of certain types of goods like historical relics, pig’s meat, etc. continue to be enforced but restrictions on imports implemented to maintain foreign exchange reserves will not be applied,” he was quoted as saying by IRIB News.

There is a long list of products in Iran whose imports have been banned for many years. According to Pour-Kazem Shayesteh, the deputy head of Iran’s Headquarters to Combat Smuggling of Goods and Foreign Exchange, the import of more than 2,000 types of goods are prohibited.

The Iranian government aims to economize on its foreign currency reserves by applying import restrictions.

Iran and EAEU have finalized negotiations on free trade of more than 7,500 types of commodities, the head of the Iranian delegation negotiating with the Eurasian bloc said earlier this month.

“Over the past two years, we have held around 30 rounds of negotiations with representatives of the Eurasian side — some face to face and others online. In the end, we agreed on a 150-page deal, which is the most comprehensive trade agreement [Iran has had],” Mirhadi Seyyedi was also quoted as saying by Tasnim News Agency.

Noting that the agreement has the widest range of commodity coverage in terms of duties, he said officials from Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization and the Eurasian side will soon announce the end of talks by signing a memorandum in Tehran.

Mohammad Khazaei, an aide to Iran Chamber of Commerce president and the Director General of ICC Iran has been elected a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) World Council.

President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholam Hossein Shafei has called for introducing and implementing a preferential trade agreement between Iran and Tajikistan.

Shafei was addressing a conference on chances for trade and investment with Tajikistan which was held in Mashhad Chamber of Commerce in northeastern Iran.

The conference was taking place as a trade delegation from Tajikistan was visiting Mashhad.

The president of Iran Chamber of Commerce said that Tajikistan has been a main trade partner of Iran over the past years. He noted that although bilateral trade between the two countries decreased drastically at some point due to some reasons, it has improved again significantly.

Shafei believed that the potential for economic cooperation between Iran and Tajikistan is much more than the current levels as both countries are member countries to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Eurasian Customs Union.

He referred to the limitation of water resources in Iran and high agricultural potentials of Tajikistan and said that Iran can meet part of its needs for agricultural products from Tajikistan and have cooperation with the country in overseas farming.

Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan Jamshed Jumakhonzoda, also joined the conference in an online way and expressed hope that the two countries would make use of huge potentials to give a boost to cooperation.  

He referred to different Iranian companies doing economic activities in Tajikistan which he said is indicative of the success of Iranian private sector in international economic cooperation.

Jumakhonzoda called for further partnership of Iranian companies in Tajikistan’s economic projects.