During the meeting on the sidelines of the Caspian Sea meeting in Ashgabat, Karbasi met Mr. D. Redzhepov and exchanged views for developing bilateral ties.
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
Karbasi pointed to the innovative technologies exhibition which is to be held in Turkmenistan, adding that private sectors of both states are keen to take advantage of the current opportunities for expansion of bilateral ties and the exhibition could be a big start.
He added that private sectors are always after win-win economic co-operations, adding that Iran and Turkmenistan have always had warm and amicable ties and their trade volume reached $2b in 2014 but since then, the trade volume was downward while there are huge economic capacities in both countries.
Karbasi noted that the current trade volume of both countries has fallen to $250m which does not deserve them.
He recommended chambers of commerce of both countries to enter the scene and to exploit the opportunities which will pave the ground for improving trade relations.
Karbasi added that boosting trade volume needs some preparations and measures, adding that easing the exchanges of trade delegations is one of the priorities. He said Iran and some other neighboring countries have had good achievements in trade after easing the visa process and it can be materialized in Turkmenistan case as well.
He said that the current trade volume of Iran with its neighbors is increasing, adding that the trade volume with Turkey is $10b, with Iraq is over $15b and with Afghanistan is over $4b.
He noted that Iran and Turkmenistan are two neighboring countries and they can open new chapter in their trade relations, reiterating that both countries can enhance their trade volume to $3b very soon.
Karbasi pointed to facilitating the transit of trucks for transporting goods between both states and creating bartering trade are the other means for increasing the economic exchanges between both states.
He also announced Iranian companies are ready to cooperate with their Turkmen counterparts in investment.
He also pointed to the launch of direct flight between Tehran and Ashgabat, adding it will ease the concern of business activists of both states.
Meanwhile his Turkmen counterpart Mr. Redzhepov pointed to two Innovative Technologies and Turkmen Sahara 2019 exhibitions to be held in Turkmenistan, stating that visa is an important issue and the process for issuing visas for businessmen should be eased.
He also pointed to the innovative technologies exhibition which is to be held in Turkmenistan, saying in the past the number of participating companies exceeded 250 but in the current condition, the number has fallen to 30 companies.
He also claimed that the decline in the trade relations between Iran and Turkmenistan is not just because of the visa process issue but it is because of lack of interest among Iranian companies for presence in Turkmenistan.
He announced readiness for preparing some facilities for Iranian companies provided that the number of Iranian companies increases in the exhibition.
