Tajikistan Highlights Economy and Trade as Key Areas of Cooperation with Iran

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon stated that economic ties and trade are key priorities in the relations between Tajikistan and Iran, The Caspian Post reports citing Interfax.

"Trade and the economy are among the priority areas of our bilateral relations. Mutual trade has acquired a new pace in recent years, growing by more than 50% last year," Rahmon said at a press conference after talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

It is important to continue to strengthen bilateral mechanisms, including the mechanisms of the joint intergovernmental commission and the two countries' council and the committee on entrepreneurship and investment, he said, calling for greater efforts to comprehensively implement the long-term trade and economic cooperation program for the period until 2030 and its roadmap.

"We voiced our interest in developing investment cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran. It was noted in this context that extensively using the potential of Tajikistan's free economic areas meets the sides' interests," Rahmon said.

Furthermore, there is vast potential in the mining industry, construction, the food and pharmaceutical sectors, the energy sector, transport, technologies, agriculture and other areas of mutual interest, he said.

Representatives of the two countries' private sector signed 13 documents worth more than $450 million at their recent meetings, Rahmon said.

At the talks, the sides exchanged views on how to make the most of the capabilities of Iran's Chabahar and Bandar Abbas ports as a cargo shipping hub, he said.

Rahmon also welcomed the introduction of visa-free travel between Tajikistan and Iran.