(www.irna.ir) вЂ" The Iran-Uzbekistan trade volume is not satisfactory, said Minister of Finance Massoud Mir-Kazemi on Tuesday.
Speaking at the eighth session here of the Iran-Uzbekistan Joint Economic Commission, the minister urged the two capitals to try to raise their current level of bilateral trade ties in all fields, particularly in engineering technology, reports Trend.
The two-day commission session began Monday attended by Finance Minister Mir-Kazemi and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Nodir Khanov, who has come to Tehran for this purpose.
Economic experts of Iran and Uzbekistan in this ongoing session are discussing major economic issues of joint interest such as ways to encourage joint ventures, facilitate transport of goods by and between the two countries and enhance banking relations between the two countries.
"The ground has now been paved for upgrading of Tehran-Tashkent ties in all economic areas," Mir-Kazemi said.
He, moreover, said that the Iranian Finance Ministry was doing its utmost to promote economic ties between the two capitals.
Khanov said that bilateral trade exchanges in 2006 rose by 42 percent from the previous year and were valued at USD 658 million.
He said that 89 firms with Iranian investment were currently active in Uzbekistan with three of these being owned by Iranians.
Khanov noted that Tehran and Tashkent had the resources to further boost their bilateral economic cooperation.