Iranian and Turkmen businessmen gathered at the “Export and trade opportunities of Iran and Turkmenistan” conference in Mashhad Chamber of Commerce on June 17 to discuss and exchange opinions in a two-day meeting about increasing export capacities, Tahlilbazaar media outlet reported on Sunday.
The event was attended by the Turkmen business delegation, officials from Khorasan-Razavi province, head of the Joint Iranian-Turkmen Chamber of Commerce Mohammad Nejad, Ambassador of Iran to Turkmenistan Gholam Abbas Arbab Khales, as well as members of Iranian business and trade organizations.
Gholam Abbas Arbab Khales has announced that the 17th meeting of the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Commission will be held in Ashgabat next month. Governor of Khorasan Razavi Yaghob-Ali Nazari is expected to visit Turkmenistan after the joint commission meeting.
During the conference, Amirreza Rajabi, Director General of Industry, Mining and Trade of Khorasan Razavi, stated that the total trade between Iran and Turkmenistan for the period of March, 2022 – March, 2023 is around $500 million, with 33% of this being from Khorasan Razavi.
Ilyas Gaipov, Turkmenistan's Consul General in Iran, highlighted the expansion of trade and cultural relations between Turkmenistan and its neighboring Iranian provinces, such as Khorasan-Razavi, North Khorasan and Golestan. Gaipov noted that Khorasan-Razavi, with three border crossings to Turkmenistan, serves as Iran's gateway to Central Asia. The Consul General expressed hope that with the visits of officials from both countries, the existing trade and economic relations between Iran and Turkmenistan would be solidified and expanded.
The Iranian side made a number of proposals, including the creation of a joint agricultural farm in Turkmenistan and increasing transport cooperation. TIn this aspect the parties noted the importance of the upcoming meeting - on transit issues - of representatives of Central Asian countries and Iran, for which a new joint document based on the capabilities of the private sector in this area is being prepared.
