Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran-Kazakhstan 10th economic commission opened in the Kazakh capital Astana to consider expansion of economic and trade cooperation.
On Thursday at the opening session, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that in the past three years, trade volume between the two countries has dramatically increased to nearly $3 billion.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood just at $600 million five years ago, press tv reported.
Mottaki however noted that given the objective set by the two countries’ presidents of $10 billion both sides must work harder to use opportunities still untapped.
Iran and Kazakhstan have implemented important projects in the energy sector, the Iranian official said, adding “currently underway is the joint railroad construction by Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan which will revolutionize regional transportation”.
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transportation and Communications, Serik Ahmedov, expressed satisfaction about the speed in cooperation between the two countries, adding that current trade volume of 6 million tons of goods, valued at $2.7 billion, is a reflection of the eagerness of both sides for economic expansion.
In the areas of transportation and energy, projects are moving along well, particularly the construction of the railroad between Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, Ahmedov added.
The Kazakhstan Minister suggested an expansion of water transportation between the two countries via the Caspian Sea, noting that currently 33 percent of the 30 million tons of goods being transported on the Caspian Sea is trade between Iran and Kazakhstan.
