First Secretary of the Tajikistan Embassy in Tehran Marufjon Abdurahmonov said that during the recent visit of Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi to Tajikistan, the two sides decided to increase their bilateral trade to €500 million per year.
Speaking in a meeting with Ali Aqazadeh, the governor general of Markazi Province, the Tajik official added that the trade between the two countries has dropped from $300 million to less than $60 million in the past eight years, ISNA reported.
Abdurahmonov said that Tehran and Dushanbe enjoy a lot of untapped potential and bilateral cooperation can be developed.
Iran-Tajikistan relations began in the early days of Tajikistan independence in 1991 and diplomatic relations prevailed, he said adding that there are currently 180 memorandums of understanding (MoU) signed between Tehran and Dushanbe that have paved the ground for more cooperation.
“Tajikistan has a lot of natural potential and can be a suitable country for Iranian specialists to invest,” Abdurahmonov said.
The Tajik diplomat also said that his country has focused on agriculture sector since independence, and industrial development has been defined as one of its strategic goals since last year.
He suggested that a sisterhood document could be signed between Markazi Province and one of Tajikistan's provinces adding that between Arak and one of Tajikistan's cities, a cultural day and week could be held and joint exhibitions could be planned.
He went on to say that this cooperation will pave the ground for the introduction of the province's products, and the expert potential of the Markazi Province can be used to help Tajikistan's industrial development.
Abdurahmonov said Tajikistan enjoys natural capacity like stone reserves, noting that Iranian experts from Markazi Province can invest in manufacturing plants in Tajikistan and form inter-university cooperation to exchange technology and experience.