BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 21
Trend:
The Iranian side is interested in Kazakh investments in the Anzali Free Economic Zone, Trend reports referring to the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The 17th meeting of the Kazakh-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission was held in Tehran co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov and Iranian Agriculture Minister Seyyed Javad Sadati Nejad.
It was further decided to hold consultative meetings on investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Iran. Iran is interested in Kazakh investments in the Anzali Free Economic Zone to create agricultural packaging centers, as well as use existing production units in the region for export to the Persian Gulf countries. The Kazakh side suggested the Iranian side to consider the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) "Khorgos" International Center for Cross-Border Cooperation for creating production facilities on the basis of export to China.
Particular emphasis was placed on the development of industrial cooperation between the two countries.
An agreement was reached on the establishment of joint ventures in the light industry, including the manufacturing of carpets and other products, on the territory of the SEZ in the southern regions of Kazakhstan. Moreover, the Iranian IDRO Group expressed its readiness to establish a consortium with Kazakh companies to implement engineering and technical projects.
The sides also confirmed their intentions to cooperate in the mining sector. The matter is the possibility of concluding long-term contracts for the purchase of iron ore and bauxite, as well as the development of engineering and technical cooperation and investment in the minerals exploration and production.
In the field of healthcare, the parties agreed to work out the creation of a joint venture for the production of medicines and medical devices complying with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and the national laws of the countries.
A large range of issues under discussion was devoted to the cooperation reinforcement in the transport and logistics.
It was decided to make joint efforts to attract additional cargo flows, establish favorable tariff conditions along the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran route, work out the transit container transportation en route from India and the Persian Gulf countries to Iran - Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Russia, as well as to take measures on intensifying the movement of container trains en route China-Iran-Turkey and back through the Inche Burun and Sarakhs Stations.
The ministers also discussed prospects for expanding cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Currently, negotiations are underway to sign a full-fledged free trade agreement between the EAEU countries and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The full-format agreement provides for the abolition and/or reduction of customs duties on at least 80 percent of the product range, which will contribute to the trade growth between the two countries.