Iran, Turkmenistan Aim to Boost Trade to $3b Within Three Years

TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking to Iran Chamber Online, Ramadan Bahrami highlighted the “stable and friendly” nature of Iran’s trade relations with Turkmenistan, stressing that despite regional and international tensions, private sector cooperation between the two countries has consistently grown.

“This year, the first Turkmenistan exhibition was held in Iran, showcasing the country’s industrial and commercial capabilities,” Bahrami said, noting that around 60 Turkmen companies participated and several contracts were signed with Iranian businesses.

According to Bahrami, trade between the two countries amounted to just $6 million last year, but a series of upcoming trade delegations is expected to significantly boost this figure. Iranian delegations from Razavi Khorasan and Golestan provinces will soon visit Turkmenistan, while five Turkmen trade missions are scheduled to travel to Iran.

Bahrami emphasized that such exchanges are vital to expanding economic ties but criticized the lack of sufficient government support. “Our only real backing comes from the Chamber of Commerce. Unfortunately, the government has not played its supportive role effectively,” he said.

He called on government experts to trust the private sector in major projects in fields such as energy, petrochemicals, construction, and road development. “Decisions should not be made without consulting the private sector, only for us to learn about them later through Turkmen counterparts,” he added.

The Iranian official praised cooperation from both Iran’s embassy in Ashgabat and Turkmenistan’s embassy in Tehran, describing diplomatic support as “very constructive.”

With more than 1,200 kilometers of shared land and sea borders, four official border crossings, and additional trade routes through northern Iranian ports such as Bandar Anzali, Bahrami believes the two countries have significant untapped potential.

“Taking advantage of these opportunities, alongside expanding trade delegations, we have set a goal of reaching $3 billion in trade within three years,” he said.

However, he warned that restrictive government regulations remain a major obstacle. “To achieve this target, the government must avoid unnecessary interference and parallel activities that undermine the private sector. If they trust us and let us work, we will definitely achieve this goal.”

Bahrami also pointed to challenges in financial transactions and barter mechanisms but stressed that the private sector is finding its own solutions. “The Turkmen government is eager to strengthen relations with Iran, but when unqualified actors are pushed into major projects, it damages trust in our private sector. That is something we must prevent,” he concluded.