Iran, Turkey deputy FMs stress strengthening economic ties

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Yildiz said in a meeting in Tehran on Sunday that Iran and Turkey can expand their economic and energy exchanges to hit a target of $30 billion in annual trade.

During the meeting, Safari and Yildiz discussed a range of economic and trade issues, including banking and customs arrangements, transit initiatives that could facilitate trade between and via the two countries, joint investment projects, and increased cooperation on natural gas and electricity projects.

Safari also pointed to problems facing trucks at the Bazargan-Gurbulak border crossing between Iran and Turkey and said there is a need for more coordination between customs officers and managers on the two sides of the border.

Yildiz, for his part, said that Iran and Turkey should hold a new session of the intergovernmental economic committee to explore ways of expanding bilateral economic and trade ties.

MP/IRN