At the Iran Expo 2025, Peyman Bagheri emphasized the strong but underutilized potential for economic cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan. He pointed to the two nations’ shared advantages in sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, and tourism, and called for more proactive efforts to boost trade. Bagheri also stressed the vital role of joint chambers of commerce and trade associations in facilitating business ties and underscored the significance of Iran Expo 2025, which gathered over 3,000 business participants from 110 countries. Ramezan Bahrami, head of the Iran–Turkmenistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, described 2024 as a fruitful year for bilateral trade and expressed hope for further progress in 2025. He praised the presidents of both countries for their role in building trust and announced the launch of a “Turkmen Trade Center” in Iran, aimed at providing better access to Iranian goods. He also revealed plans for a joint provincial exhibition in Gorgan to enhance economic diplomacy. Bahrami called for more targeted market research and specialized meetings to align Iran’s technical capabilities with regional demand. Seyyed Hossein Mirshafi’, advisor to Iran’s Minister of Transport, described the conference as a chance to solidify regional ties. He highlighted a recent railway agreement and proposed expanding air routes between cities like Ashgabat and Chabahar. He also introduced initiatives to ease cargo movement and provide discounts for Turkmen traders using Iranian railways. In March, the Iran–Turkmenistan Joint Chamber of Commerce introduced an economic consortium with broad private-sector backing. This initiative aims to streamline trade, reduce barriers, and promote long-term economic collaboration. Bahrami noted that the consortium would create a formal entry point for Iranian firms into the Turkmen market, lower business costs, and expand mutual trade opportunities. Iran and Turkmenistan share over 1,000 kilometers of border and have longstanding economic ties since Turkmenistan’s independence in 1991. Cooperation has been particularly strong in infrastructure and energy, with major projects such as the Friendship Dam and the Korpeje–Kordkuy gas pipeline. However, trade volumes have varied widely, peaking at $3.2 billion in 2008 before dropping significantly due to fluctuating energy prices. In April, Iran’s Vice President Seyed Hamid Pourmohammadi met with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedow to explore new avenues for cooperation across economic, political, and cultural fields. This visit occurred during the ECO Sustainable Development Forum in Arkadag. Pourmohammadi also held talks with several Turkmen officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Rashid Meredov and Deputy PM for Trade Nookerguly Atagulyyev, discussing strategies to enhance bilateral trade. Meanwhile, during Iranian Transport Minister Farzaneh Sadeq’s late March visit to Turkmenistan, the two nations reviewed cooperation roadmaps in areas including transportation, engineering services, energy, and transit. Agreements were made to hold the next Joint Economic Committee meeting in Tehran in mid-May to finalize these discussions and sign new cooperation documents. Minister Sadeq also met with Turkmenistan’s Transport and Communication Minister to discuss reducing road tolls and facilitating cross-border traffic. They outlined future cooperation in roads, rail, and multimodal infrastructure. Talks also touched on collaborative efforts under the TRACECA regional transport framework and plans to boost rail capacity, enable 20 million tons of transit, and expand infrastructure at border points like Lotfabad. Further discussions addressed launching direct passenger flights and increasing flight frequency between the two countries, with the aim of enhancing tourism and business travel. Specialized concerns in this area were also reviewed to improve mutual connectivity. (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: Tehran times