BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 18. A meeting has been held between Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister, Co-Chairman of the State Commission for Economic, Trade and Humanitarian Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran Shahin Mustafayev and the Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran, Co-Chairman of the State Commission for Economic, Trade and Humanitarian Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran Mehrdad Bazrpash in Astara city (Iran), Trend reports.
During the meeting, issues related to regional and international transport and communications between the two countries, including energy projects, were discussed.
The parties stressed the importance of continuing efforts related to the development of the region's transit potential, and considered it expedient to accelerate the implementation of projects aimed at the development and diversification of transport communications.
In this regard, they agreed to accelerate measures to implement the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the creation of new communication links between the Eastern Zangazur economic region and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan through the territory of Iran, signed on March 11, 2022.
Regarding the implementation of projects aimed at developing transport and communication links between the two countries, it was announced that the construction of the Astara cargo terminal will be completed by the end of next year, and the need to complete the creation of the customs and border infrastructure of the road bridge across the Astarachay River as soon as possible.
The parties discussed issues of cooperation and the state of implementation of projects related to the use of energy and water resources.
In particular, the importance of accelerating work on the completion of the projects for the construction of Khudafarin, Giz Galasi and Ordubad-Marazad hydrojunctions and hydroelectric power plants was noted.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran from January through May 2023 amounted to $212.6 million, up by 7.6 percent compared to the same period in 2022. The exports from Azerbaijan to Iran made up $7,5 million, and from Iran to Azerbaijan - $205 million, respectively, down by 2.1 times and up 13 percent year on year.