In a meeting held at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA), senior representatives from Pakistan’s Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Tehran officials discussed expanding bilateral trade through deeper port cooperation between Gwadar and Chabahar.During the talks, which included Peyman Sanandaji, head of the Tehran Chamber’s Transportation Commission, and Hessamoddin Hallaj, Deputy for International Affairs and Trade Development, both sides explored the potential for boosting goods exchange between the two strategic ports. The meeting also brought together members of Tehran’s transport commission and Iranian business leaders.According to the TCCIMA portal, the Gwadar delegation expressed readiness to collaborate in introducing reputable companies from both countries, improving port-based trade, establishing a financial corridor, and developing customs infrastructure.Sanandaji stressed the need to modernize overland and maritime transit infrastructure between Chabahar and Gwadar, saying the Tehran chamber is ready to engage with Gwadar counterparts to identify and develop transport opportunities.Hallaj highlighted the growing strategic role of both ports in bilateral commerce and noted that Gwadar, which has so far operated mainly within the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, could evolve into a multilateral regional hub. He also announced Tehran’s willingness to assist in introducing reliable companies and facilitating business visa requests for Pakistani and Iranian traders.As announced by an official with the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), Iran has exported non-oil commodities valued at $2.4 billion to Pakistan in the past Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, 2025.Abolfazl Akbarpour, the deputy head of IRICA for planning and international affairs, said that Pakistan was Iran’s fifth top export destination in the previous year.Speakers at a seminar on the future of Iran-Pakistan relations and regional connectivity emphasized the need for constructive dialogue between officials from both countries to navigate administrative and logistical complexities. They stressed that securing mutual benefits and improving the well-being of the Iranian and Pakistani people require strong political will and reciprocal practical measures.The seminar, titled "Iran-Pakistan Relations: Trade Outlook and Strengthening Connectivity," was held on March 1 with the participation of the Iranian Embassy and hosted by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).The event brought together prominent experts from Pakistan’s diplomatic, media, economic, and political spheres, along with several foreign diplomats.Among the keynote speakers were Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tehran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, ISSI Chairman Sohail Mahmood, and former Pakistani Ambassador to Iran Riffat Masood.They underscored the $10 billion trade target and key energy projects as crucial steps toward strengthening bilateral relations.Acknowledging the challenges hindering smooth trade between the two nations stemming from administrative complexities, logistical barriers, and regional and global developments speakers emphasized that structured engagement, fostering trust, and mutual respect form the foundation for a resilient and adaptable partnership between Tehran and Islamabad.Pakistani experts highlighted the importance of enhancing border security, building mutual trust, and advancing projects such as linking the Gwadar and Chabahar ports and collaborating on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to unlock greater trade potential. (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: Tehran Times