Tehran, Islamabad to Launch Four New Joint Border Markets
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN- Pakistan Ambassador to Tehran Rahim Hayat Qureshi on Wednesday met Head of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) Masoud Khansari and during the meeting the Pakistani diplomat announced that four markets will be launched at the joint border points in the upcoming weeks.
According to reports, in the meeting Pakistan Ambassador Hayat Qureshi said that direct talks between private sectors of Iran and Pakistan are currently underway with the initiative of TCCIMA and this will lead to serious developments in bilateral economic relations of both countries, adding that in the upcoming weeks four new joint border markets will open.
Hayat Qureshi who has recently started his work as Pakistan Envoy to Tehran emphasized the significance of boosting bilateral economic relations and added that during Iran Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif’s recent visit to Islamabad and his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and other Pakistani officials, expansion of bilateral ties was one of the main topics of talks.
He also pointed to the strategic and geographical position of Iran in the region and the opportunities which will happen in the near future, adding that chambers of commerce of both countries as the executive arms of private sectors will have important role on course to developing bilateral relations.
He also expressed his gratitude over holding specialized trade webinars by TCCIMA and announced opening of four new joint border markets in upcoming weeks, adding that the new joint border terminal of Iran and Pakistan is to open this week with presence of officials of both countries which can help the trade volume of both countries to increase significantly.
Meanwhile, Head of TICCMA Mr. Khansari, for his part, pointed to the amicable and good relations of both countries in the past and in different periods, adding that despite having good relations, the economic relation of both states has not been satisfactory despite their good economic capacities and it has not been as good as their cultural ties. He then notified that private sector can play its role in expansion of bilateral economic relations more than ever.
Khansari also pointed to the visit of TCCIMA delegation to the cities of Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan and expressed hope that after containment of coronavirus and return of normal life to the world, the exchange of delegations between Iran and Pakistan would resume.
He also pointed to the actions of the international affairs department of TCCIMA at least in the past year for improving trade relations with neighboring states and said both sides through cooperation of chamber of commerce and Pakistan Embassy and Iranian Counsellors can identify the problems and weaknesses and find the proper solutions for the woes.
In recent weeks, TCCIMA in collaboration with chamber of commerce of city of Lahore has held a webinar for boosting economic relations and this week TCCIMA is to hold another joint trade webinar and this time in collaboration with chamber of commerce of the city of Karachi.
Also in the meeting, head of international affairs department of TCCIMA Mr. Hesamuddin Hallaj, for his part, called for a joint workgroup between TCCIMA and Pakistan Embassy and holding regular monthly meetings for removing hurdles in way of developing cooperation between Iran and Pakistan.
He said re-export of goods that both sides have slapped ban on their imports despite their preferential trade agreement can be a practical solution for resolving the problem of not implementing the agreement.
