Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 15
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
Iranian high-ranking economic delegation led by Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami arrived in Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat for participating in the meeting of the Iran-Turkmenistan Commission of Economic Cooperation, Trend reports referring to Iran’s Mehr news agency on Oct. 15.
According to the scheduled program, Eslami will hold talks with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The Iranian delegation will also meet with Minister of Industry, Communications and Transport of Turkmenistan Takhyrberdi Durkhanov.
During an expert-level meeting held recently in Ashgabat, the two sides agreed to expand the volume of their economic and political ties.
On the sidelines of the Commission, a 70-member delegation, comprised of businessmen from the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), will follow up on expansion of economic relations with Turkmenistan's private sector.
Iranian Roads Minister Eslami is accompanied by Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Amir Zamaninia, Vice Chairman of ICCIMA Hossein Salahvarzi, Deputy Minister of Roads Shahram Adamnejad and a number of MPs.
Turkmenistan and Iran border on the Caspian Sea and have a long land border. Over the years of long-term cooperation, several major economic projects have been implemented. The gas pipeline Korpeje-Kurt-kui commissioned in 1996 and the transit branch Dovletabat-Sarahs-Hangeran built in recent years in addition to the pipeline can be indicated among the most important projects.
Iran is the third biggest foreign trade partner of Turkmenistan. The two countries focus on joint activities in the transport and transit sector, as well as in the field of road construction and the electricity and gas sectors.