Iran and Kyrgyzstan held the 14th meeting of their Joint Economic Committee in Tehran, aiming to expand bilateral ties across economic, scientific, cultural, and technical sectors.Senior officials from both countries, including Iran’s Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh and Kyrgyz Economy and Commerce Minister Sydykov Bakyt Tolomushevich, attended the meeting, which emphasized boosting trade and investment cooperation.At the opening ceremony, Nouri highlighted agriculture, industry, energy, and technology as key areas of collaboration. He expressed hope that the session would lay the groundwork for a significant rise in economic exchanges between the two nations.Sydykov echoed these sentiments, noting the long-standing ties between Iran and Kyrgyzstan since 1992 and underscoring multilateral cooperation through organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union.Iran eyes trade boost through Eurasian free trade agreementIran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref met with Kyrgyz officials on the sidelines of the meeting, stating that Tehran is ready to expand cooperation in technical and engineering services and technology transfer. He pointed to the Eurasian Free Trade Agreement as a mechanism to deepen both bilateral and multilateral ties.“The economies of our two countries complement each other, particularly in agriculture,” Aref said, calling for greater involvement of the private sector in realizing trade potential. He also called for removing administrative hurdles and accelerating direct air links and visa facilitation.Aref recalled his past visits to Kyrgyzstan and emphasized the shared cultural and historical heritage that supports closer ties. He said the current session of the commission could pave the way for a new era in bilateral cooperation.Agriculture, infrastructure highlighted as priority sectorsDuring the closing session, Iran’s agriculture minister said the joint committee meeting coincided with the 7th Iran Export Capabilities Expo (EXPO 2025), providing a platform for business networking. He welcomed a memorandum of understanding signed during the meeting to establish a joint investment committee and called for continued efforts to finalize practical agreements.The two sides reached consensus on joint fish farming, livestock feed production, and cooperation in plant and animal quarantine. They also discussed Kyrgyz investment in Iranian ports, particularly within the framework of the International North–South Transit Corridor (INSTC).Nouri emphasized the need to bring economic cooperation in line with political ties and said the cultural affinity between the two countries could be harnessed for expanded exchanges in energy, sports, and cultural sectors.Kyrgyz minister stresses need for stronger business linksKyrgyz Economy Minister Sydykov said his country had seen nine percent annual economic growth over the past three years, including a 13 percent rise in the first quarter of this year. He noted Iran’s role in joint projects and said a more robust private-sector partnership could help realize further gains.Sydykov also extended condolences to Iran following a recent explosion at Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, expressing solidarity with the Iranian people.Trade up 31%; Iran, Kyrgyzstan sign investment MOU (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: Tehran Times