Tehran-Tashkent Direct Flight to Resume Officially on Dec. 9
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – Iran and Uzbekistan will boost their trade relation by launching direct flight which will officially start on December 9 by dispatch of a trade and political delegation to Tashkent.
In a press conference which was held at Uzbekistan Embassy in Tehran yesterday, Uzbekistan Ambassador Bakhodir Abdullaev and officials of Zagros Airlines announced the resumption of direct flight between Tehran and Tashkent which will start on Monday December 9.
Addressing the participants in the press conference, Uzbek Ambassador said that he is very glad that the direct flight between both states is to resume after years and it will bolster all-out relations between both countries.
He pointed to several meetings of senior officials of both states, adding that the current trade level between both countries is over $350m and both countries are determined to enhance it.
He noted that after President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took office in Uzbekistan in 2016,his policies have led to significant progress in political, cultural and economic fields which have been acknowledged by the international community.
Mr. Abdullaev went on to say that one of the most important developments since 2016 is that Uzbeks have shown their interests to cooperate with Iranians, adding that over 150 joint venture factories have been set up in different economic fields.
The envoy also pointed to the great commonalities between both states especially in scientific and cultural fields and Iranian artists and intellectuals constantly attend different events in Uzbekistan.
He noted that in March, Uzbek President ordered the government to ease visa facilities for Iranian nationals to get e-visa.
Mr. Abdullaev added that after meeting of tourism ministers of both countries, they called for boosting relations by strengthening cooperation in tourism.
He reiterated that Uzbek President is determined to develop tourism industry in Uzbekistan and established a ministry to run tourism in the country. He added that over 1000 tourist operators with more than 900 hotels are active in Uzbekistan.
Mr. Abdullaev reiterated that due to the number of historic sites in Uzbekistan, the country is among top 15 countries in the world. He added that over 4,000 cultural and historic sites are in Uzbekistan and the country is considered as one of the top tourist destinations in the world.
He went on to say that the number of foreign tourists visiting Uzbekistan rose from one million in 20016 to 6 million in 2019.
He also hailed Zagros Airlines officials who took an important step for boosting bilateral cooperation between Iran and Uzbekistan in different fields especially in tourism.
Meanwhile former manager of Zagros Airlines Company Mr. Hooshang Sedigh who did his best for launching the direct flight between both states said that the flight will officially start on December 9 by dispatch of a trade and political delegation from Iran who is to attend an exhibition in Tashkent. He added that the company is to have the flight on Sundays and in case it is welcomed by the passengers, the number of flights would increase and its fare would also decrease. He added that majority of the planes of the company is airbus MD Boeing.
Meanwhile the owner of Zagros Airlines Mr. Mousavi announced his support for the direct flight between both countries, adding that the flight would help to strengthen ties between both countries and would help circulation of capital and boost of occupancy.
