Astana, Kazakhstan, May 22
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
Kazakh Minister of Economy and Budget Planning, Erbolat Dossayev has held a meeting with Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Ali Tayebnia, Kazakh Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning said on May 22.
"The interests of Astana and Tehran coincide in many regional and international issues, energy security and economic cooperation," Dossayev said.
Kazakh minister underscored that the commissioning of Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran (Uzen-Gyzylgaya-Bereket-Etrek-Gorgan) railway will strengthen both bilateral and regional trade, and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Iran.
He went on to add that the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway will increase the efficiency of the transport and communications system of the whole region.
Kazakh minister said the construction of the railway's Iranian section has already been completed, adding that the Inceburun border station on the Iranian-Turkmen border is under construction.
The Turkmen side plans to complete the construction of its section in October 2014.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed the trade and economic partnership issues.
Dossayev stressed that the current status and prospects for the Kazakh-Iranian relations are stable and can be strengthened.
The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iran stood at $620.6 million as of 2013, according to the data of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning.
Kazakhstan mainly exports wheat, flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel to Iran and imports nuts, cars and other motor vehicles from this country.
Edited by C.N.