Tehran, May 11, 2024 (MRUD NEWS)—During the meeting of Mehrdad Bazrpash, Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development and head of Iran, Turkey Joint Economic Commission, with Kayhan Turkmenoglu, the head of the Turkey-Iran parliamentary friendship group, on Wednesday in Tehran, the two countries conferred on promoting bilateral trade ahead of upcoming Joint Economic Commission to be held next month in Tehran. 

Bazrpash, who heads the Iran, Turkey Joint Economic Commission made the announcement after a meeting with the chairman of the Iran-Turkey Parliamentary Friendship Group. 

Bazrpash said Turkey is an important country in the region and has established good relations with the Islamic Republic in all areas.

As per the policy of President Ebrahim Raisi administration regarding the development of relations with the neighboring countries, Iran is determined to promote trade between the two countries, Bazrpash stated. 

According to Bazrpash, Iran and Turkey have extensive trade relations through the four border terminals of Sero, Razi, Bazargan, and Kuzeh Rash, and considering the location of the two countries in accessing European markets and high seas, the two sides targeted an annual $30 billion trade.

Bazrpash highlighted the detailed plan for the development of transit and trade between the two countries and noted 58% growth of Iran's transit in the last year due to the 13th government's determination for developing transit with the neighboring countries.  

Pointing to the completion of the International East-West and South-Northwest Corridor as a safe route to access the European market, Bazrpash draw attention to the Khoy County and Razi Terminal for improving transit. 

In this meeting, Kayhan Turkmenoglu, also pointed out Turkey's desire for a $30 billion trade with Iran and promoting tourism from 3 million to 5 million per year and said: "Iran and Turkey are lands of opportunities and good market due to cultural commonalities, and we hope that the bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries would develop further". 

Previously, the preparatory meetings for the 29th 'Iran, Turkey Joint Economic Cooperation Commission' were held in Ankara during the visit of Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Mehrdad Bazrpash, to Turkey on January 3, 2024. 

Later, Iran and Turkey signed 10 MoU and co-op documents during 8th Iran, Turkey Supreme Council of Economic Cooperation held on January 24 in Ankara. Two of the documents were related to the rail and air transport.