Call for Implementation of Iran-Kazakhstan Agreements
TEHRAN (Iran News) At a meeting with Ontalap Onalbayeva, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Iran, Samad Hasanzadeh continued: The $300 million trade volume between Iran and Kazakhstan does not match the capacities and potentials of the two countries. We all need to work towards achieving the $3 billion trade target set in the joint cooperation agreement between Iran and Kazakhstan.
Referring to the logistics agreement among Iran, Kazakhstan, and Russia, he added: We must be able to utilize this suitable opportunity in the field of transportation to promote trade among the regional countries.
The President of the Iran Chamber invited the President of the Kazakhstan Chamber and its trade delegation to visit Iran, stating: Considering Iran’s capabilities in technical and engineering services, power plant construction, petrochemical industries, food industries, agriculture and livestock, construction, pharmaceuticals and medical fields, tourism, handicrafts, information and communication technology, and knowledge-based productions, we can establish good cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries.
He mentioned the investments of Iran’s private sector in Kazakhstan and said: We expect more support from the Kazakh government for Iran’s private sector.
Hasanzadeh emphasized: With the resolution of banking issues between Iran and Kazakhstan, especially in the agricultural and livestock sectors, there is a very suitable ground for joint investments that must be utilized.
Qadir Qiyafeh, Vice President of the Iran Chamber, stated that Iran’s engineering sector has a significant presence in Kazakhstan. Considering the rich mines in Kazakhstan, including copper and iron, establishing concentrate and pelletizing plants, and producing green steel, oil and gas technology and petrochemical equipment, agricultural products, and livestock products are excellent areas for cooperation between the two countries.
He emphasized that the exports of the two countries should be based on joint investments. In this way, the exports of the two countries will increase.
Ontalap Onalbayeva, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Iran, also referred to the good political and economic cooperation between the two countries in regional organizations. He said: In the field of freight transit and sea, rail, and land transportation, good cooperation has been and is being formed between the two countries, which should continue.
He added: About 70% of the $302 million trade volume between the two countries last year was related to Iran’s exports to Kazakhstan. While in the fields of production and supply of meat and agricultural products, petrochemicals, and building materials, good cooperation can be established, leading to an increase in this trade volume and more balance.
Onalbayeva mentioned the monetary and banking mechanisms between the two countries and said: The private sectors of the two countries are not yet fully aware of the process of resolving banking obstacles, which should be communicated. I suggest that a joint online meeting be held between the chambers and relevant officials to inform traders about the details of this banking mechanism.
He called for the speedy implementation of the joint cooperation agreement between Iran and Kazakhstan and continued: In this agreement, responsibilities for the chambers of the two countries, including the creation of a trade cooperation council between Iran and Kazakhstan, have been defined. My suggestion is to create a roadmap for the implementation of the defined tasks with the cooperation of the chambers of the two countries and embassies.
He stated that the two sides should provide each other with a list of their free trade goods, expressing: We welcome the presence of Iranian companies in Kazakhstan, especially in infrastructure projects, including dam construction and the food industry.
Amir Abedi, President of the Iran-Kazakhstan Joint Chamber, also considered technical and engineering services as one of the good cooperation capacities between the two countries. He continued: Currently, projects worth over $150 million are being implemented by Iranian companies in Kazakhstan.
He stated that Kazakhstan has high capacity in agricultural inputs and mining and continued: I suggest, with the cooperation of the Iran Chamber, to organize the Iran pavilion at the Almaty International Food Industry Exhibition in the next three months. The Gorgan Chamber and the Joint Chamber intend to introduce Iranian food products and packaging industries at this exhibition.
Referring to Kazakhstan’s $135 billion trade with the world, he said: We must increase our share of this trade volume. To achieve the $3 billion target, we need to set up a committee to remove obstacles and introduce investment opportunities to traders on both sides.
He stated that the Joint Chamber would soon establish a marketing services office in Almaty, saying: There are excellent opportunities in agriculture and cross-border cultivation, especially in rice cultivation, which should be utilized.
Hamed Asgari, Vice President of International Affairs at the Iran Chamber, said: Kazakhstan, due to its vastness and water resources, is the best opportunity for cross-border cultivation. However, there are issues in this path that need to be resolved, and an appropriate model must be defined for it.
