Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkish State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen said Iran may soon start importing 2 million tons of wheat from his country.
Tuzmen said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told him during a recent meeting in Tehran that Iran needs wheat.
Tuzmen told reporters after meeting the Iranian president in Tehran that Iran needs 2 million tons of wheat from Turkey.
Tuzmen said Turkey could exchange rice with the wheat Iran is requesting.
Banking transactions between Turkey and Iran would gain importance in the upcoming period, and the Iranian president suggested that a “joint bank” be established by the two countries in order to speed up such transactions, Tuzmen said.
Tuzmen said if a Turkish bank opens a branch in Iran this would ease the transactions.
Tuzmen also said that Turkey desired to participate in developing the hydrocarbon resources of Iran. Turkey has already signed an agreement to develop Iranian natural gas fields much to the anger of Washington.
He said transfer of Turkmen gas and oil to Turkey via Iran, as well as the transfer of Iranian natural gas and oil to Europe via Turkey were discussed during his talks with Iranian officials.
“Turkey and Iran have complementary economies. Iran has the energy resources we need, and we have the industrial products Iran needs. This is a historical opportunity for both of us at the moment,” Tuzmen said.
