Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 28
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:
In the first eight months of the current Iranian year (started March 21), 132,494 tons of goods were loaded and unloaded at Iran's Astara port, which indicates a 7 percent growth compared to the previous Iranian year, head of the Gilan provincial office of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization, Hossein Cheraghi said, IRNA reported.
Cheraghi noted that 87,288 tons of goods were exported, while 45,206 tons of good were imported through Astara port.
Compared to the same period of the last Iranian year, number of ships coming to the port and goods export increased by 5 and 97 percent, respectively, while goods imports decreased by 43 percent.
Cheraghi stressed that Astara's proximity to Central Asian countries is one of its advantages and establishing an Iran-Azerbaijan free trade zone with private sector investments may positively contribute to the economies of both countries.