Top-ranking officials from Iran and Uzbekistan on Monday urged the need to speed up finalizing a preferential trade agreement between the two countries so as to raise bilateral trade to $1 billion per annum.
Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov met with Iranian Vice-President for Economic Affairs Mohsen Rezaei and President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholam Hossein Shafei where they explored ways for further expansion of bilateral trade.
The meeting was held before an Iran-Uzbekistan business forum which was held later in the day.
Speaking during the meeting, the Iranian vice president expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the negotiations between the visiting Uzbek delegation and the Iranian sides, expressing hope that an agreement the Uzbek delegation signed with Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade will become implemented at the earliest.
Noting that Iran Chamber of Commerce is one of the most powerful chambers in the region, Rezaei voiced full support of the Iranian government for the activities of the country’s private sector.
In the meantime, the Iran Chamber president referred to the 14th Iran-Uzbekistan Joint Commission due to be held on Tuesday, noting that the commission can pave the way for boosting the level of trade relations between the two countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, for his part, said that during his meetings with Iranian officials, he had stressed that the two countries have to go beyond mere promises and implement the already reached agreements.
Umurzakov also underlined the significance of transportation cooperation and opening up new linking corridors between Iran and Uzbekistan. He noted that the two counties have also agreed to make use of the potentials of Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran.
Chairman of the newly-formed Iran-Uzbekistan Joint Chamber of Commerce Mousa Aghaei said early in February that Tashkent’s accession to the Chabahar Agreement is nearing completion.