Baku, Azerbaijan, March 15
By Khaild Kazimov - Trend:
Presidential aides from Iran and Turkey have made decision to improve cooperation between the two neighbor countries on e-tourism.
E-Tourism is the analysis, design, implementation and application of IT and e-commerce solutions in the travel and tourism industry; as well as the analysis of the respective economic processes and market structures and customer relationship management.
Turkish Minister of Development and President Special Aide Cevdet Yilmaz agreed to Iranian ICT Minister Mahmoud Vaezi's initiative on increasing cooperation on e-tourism during a joint committee session, Fars news agency reported March 15.
Speaking at the end of the session, Vaezi said that the talks held during the session were positive, leading to good places on issues such as transportation, customs, banking, and trade.
He added that Iran and Turkey are also going to boost cooperation in the healthcare sector.
Yilmaz also said around the same time that Tehran and Ankara will boost relations in all sectors. He also evaluated the talks as positive.
In line with their geographical situations, Iran and Turkey will improve cooperation on ports, transportation, and customs.
The two countries' officials believe that last year's investment of $14 billion in joint projects has not been enough, calling for more investment.
Iran said that it plans to sign 12 cooperation agreement with Turkey during the upcoming visit to Tehran by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Vaezi said the agreements mostly address cooperation between Iran and Turkey over energy, trade, health, transportation, and customs issues.
The Turkish president is expected in the Iranian capital in early April. The visit that will come at a crucial juncture of Iran nuclear talks as well as the current course of developments in Iraq and Syria will take place at the invitation of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani.
The trade turnover between Iran and Turkey in the first half of 2014 stood at $6.5 billion, according to data released by Turkish Statistical Institute.
The trade turnover between Turkey and Iran stood at $22 billion in 2012 before dipping to $14.5 billion in the following year due to the economic sanctions imposed on Tehran by the West.