Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 24
By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend:
Turkmenistan is committed to the traditionally friendly relations with Iran, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said on Feb. 24, according to a message from the Turkmen government.
The Turkmen president made the remarks at a government meeting, which discussed issues regarding Iran's 8th Exclusive Exhibition to be held in Ashgabat on February 27-March 1.
The event is expected to be attended by a representative delegation from that country.
"The main goal of such exhibitions held in our country is their practical impact on trade and economic cooperation between the countries," Turkmen president said.
This exhibition will widely represent the products of leading Iranian companies - manufacturers and exporters specializing in the petrochemical and chemical industry, building materials, food products and agricultural products.
The annual volume of bilateral trade between the two countries is about $5 billion and this can double in the coming years. Turkmenistan and Iran border on the Caspian Sea and have land borders too. A series of large-scale joint projects have been implemented in recent years.
Here the matter rests in a strategic project on commissioning Korpeje-Kurt Kui gas pipeline in 1996 and the Dovletabat-Sarahs-Hangeran pipeline, which has been commissioned recently and was required given the increasing Turkmen gas supplies to Iran.
Tehran and Ashgabat previously said they are holding talks to increase the supply of Turkmen gas to Iran.
Today Turkmenistan and Iran are continuing to work on regional projects. Among them is the 'North-South' railway project, which is being implemented on the basis of an agreement signed by Turkmenistan, Iran and Kazakhstan in 2007.
Translated by E.A.
Edited by C.N.