TURKMENISTAN – IRAN: DEVELOPMENT OF MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION
The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the closest neighbors and friendly countries of Turkmenistan, which has common historical roots going back thousands of years. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on February 18, 1992. The rich experience accumulated over the years contributes to the further expansion of cooperation between the two countries in trade, economic, scientific, educational, cultural and humanitarian fields.
On November 17-18, 2023, the 17th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Iranian Commission on Economic Cooperation was held in Ashgabat and the opening of a specialized exhibition of a friendly neighboring state called “Iran Project” are another striking example of the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Turkmenistan and Iran. The large-scale exhibition presented general information about the products and services of almost 100 companies in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
According to experts, the holding of such exhibitions generally testifies to the enormous economic potential of the Turkmen state, is proof of its openness to mutually beneficial economic cooperation and readiness to actively join the world economic space.
As part of the exhibition and business forum, representatives of the business circles of Turkmenistan and Iran held a number of meetings and negotiations in order to further develop and deepen cooperation. As a result of the negotiations, bilateral documents were signed aimed at strengthening the traditionally fruitful relations between entrepreneurs of the two countries.
In the field of transport, the Turkmen side proposed intensifying the functioning of the transport and transit corridor along the route “China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran”. In this context, it was noted that Turkmenistan has positive experience in implementing this project, which allows us to state today the high effectiveness of this route.
In the further development of trade relations, the Turkmen side put forward a proposal to create trade and economic zones on certain sections of the Turkmen-Iranian border.
The parties also discussed issues of developing cooperation between the regions of the two countries, in the fields of science and education, culture, healthcare, sports and tourism, and environmental protection.
As a result of the meeting, the following documents were signed:
- the Protocol of the 17th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Iranian Commission on Economic Cooperation;
- Framework Agreement to Facilitate the Financial Process for Implementation of Turkmen Portion of Mary (Turkmenistan)– Mashhad(Iran) Power Transmission Line Project among the “Turkmenenergo” State Power Corporation, TAVANIR Company and “Sanergy Pishro Export” and “Energy Promotion Company”;
- Memorandum of Cooperation between the State Agency for Road Construction Management and the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the construction of the “Gumdag-Etrek-Iran border” highway.
Halmyrat JUMAYEV,
I year student of the Faculty of International Economic Relations
of the Institute of International Relations
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan