Iran, Tajikistan Expand Economic Cooperation

TEHRAN (Iran News) According to the Karaj Chamber of Commerce, the ambassador’s visit included a joint meeting with local business leaders, talks with the governor of Alborz, and tours of key production facilities. The trip highlighted promising prospects for strengthening Iran-Tajikistan economic ties.

Parham Rezaei, head of the Alborz Chamber of Commerce, noted that with more than 4,000 industrial units and close proximity to Tehran, the province is a major center for production and exports. He said Alborz generated over $1 billion in exports last year, much of it to neighboring countries. Agricultural products, particularly vegetables, meet a large share of demand in Persian Gulf states.

He added that Alborz also hosts major confectionery and biscuit industries, with several companies setting up secondary plants to benefit from the region’s distribution networks. Rezaei emphasized that the visit was a valuable opportunity to present Alborz’s capacities in textiles, food, and pharmaceuticals, and to facilitate future business-to-business (B2B) negotiations.

Ambassador Shamsiddinzoda welcomed the visit, noting Alborz’s strategic location near Tehran. He praised the province’s industrial showcase, saying it reflected strong potential for expanded cooperation with Tajikistan.

He highlighted the rapid growth in bilateral trade, which rose from $57 million five years ago to over $300 million last year. Projections estimate trade could reach $500 million by the end of this year, with the long-term goal of $1 billion. The ambassador identified textiles, pharmaceuticals, food industries, and petrochemicals as priority areas for collaboration.

At a joint session with Alborz business leaders, both sides explored cooperation in textiles, agriculture, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and joint investments. Rezaei underlined that Alborz’s food, pharmaceutical, automotive parts, cosmetics, and textile sectors offer major opportunities for trade with Tajikistan.

Yadollah Malmir, vice president of the Alborz Chamber and head of the province’s Textile Association, noted that Alborz consumes three million tons of yarn annually across 200 active units. He proposed imports of cotton and yarn from Tajikistan in exchange for Alborz’s pharmaceutical and industrial exports.

Abdolreza Bazdar, head of Alborz’s Agriculture Department, said the province produces 24 million tons of crops annually, along with 600,000 tons of milk and 90,000 tons of eggs. With 550 hectares of greenhouse cultivation, he pointed to new export opportunities.

Nader Zeinali, provincial director of cultural heritage and tourism, emphasized potential cooperation in medical tourism and industrial tours.

Hossein Fallah-Nejad, director of labor and social affairs, suggested employing Tajik workers to fill shortages in Alborz industries, while also promoting the exchange of skilled professionals.

During his meeting with Governor Mojtaba Abdollahi, the ambassador invited Iranian businesses to take part in Tajikistan’s international exhibitions and stressed the importance of joint projects in agriculture, livestock, and food industries. Abdollahi highlighted the historic and linguistic ties between Iran and Tajikistan as a foundation for deeper economic and cultural cooperation.

The ambassador also toured food production and packaging machinery plants in Alborz, gaining a closer look at the province’s industrial capabilities.

The visit by Tajikistan’s ambassador to Alborz marked a significant step in advancing economic relations between the two countries. Beyond promoting the province’s strengths in industry and agriculture, the trip fostered direct dialogue and set the stage for new avenues of cooperation.