TEHRAN (Iran News) –The Iranian minister of transport and urban development has described Turkmenistan as a strategic partner for Iran and called for taking a key step towards further bilateral relations between the two countries.

Mehrdad Bazrpash made the remarks in a meeting with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedow in Ashgabat on Friday, prior to the two countries’ 17th Joint Economic Committee meeting.

In the meeting, Bazrpash elaborated on the “Iran Way Initiative” made by the current Iranian government.

As the minister said, the Iran Way Initiative lets the neighboring countries use Iran as a route or a solution that facilitates their access to international waters.

He went on to say that Turkmenistan has a special position in this initiative.

Earlier that day, Bazrpash attended the opening ceremony of a specialized exhibition of the achievements of the Iranian companies called “Iran Project” in Turkmenistan’s capital.

Speaking on the sidelines of the mentioned event, Bazrpash said the trade between Iran and Turkmenistan is expected to reach $1.0 billion in the near future.

He put the current level of trade between the two sides at $500 million, saying: “Today, in the negotiation with the president of Turkmenistan, it was mentioned that with the potential that exists on the Iranian side and the wide border that exists between Turkmenistan and Iran, this number can increase quickly.”

Later that day, at the opening ceremony of the two countries’ 17th Joint Economic Committee meeting, Bazrpash expressed Iran’s readiness to export technical and engineering services to Turkmenistan, saying:

Iran Way Initiative is the gateway to Iran’s land of transit opportunities.

He said the committee meeting is a turning point in the path of strengthening and developing all-round economic relations between the two countries.

The minister emphasized that the relations between the two countries are based on civilizational, historical, cultural, social, ethnic, and religious ties and geopolitical and geo-economic neighborliness.

According to the official, considering the successful diplomatic and economic relations based on common capacities and interests, the two countries’ relations go beyond neighborhood.

With joint initiatives, the position of the two countries as strategic and reliable partners can be strengthened and improved day by day, he said.

“Among these initiatives in the field of transport, logistics, and transit is the Iran Way initiative which was launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran in regional and extra-regional economic, commercial, and transit events and meetings, including the recent meeting of the ECO transport ministers that took place in Tashkent,” Bazrpahs elaborated.

On the second day of the Joint Economic Committee meeting on Saturday, Bazrpash and Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, who are the heads of the mentioned committee, held talks to exchange final views on the agreements reached between the two sides during the event.

In this meeting, the two sides reviewed the issues raised in the committee meeting and the finalized documents for signing.

Later on Saturday, the two officials attended an Iran-Turkmenistan business forum, in which the private sectors of the two countries explored avenues of mutual cooperation.

Speaking in this forum, Bazrpash referred to the flourishing of commercial relations between Iran and Turkmenistan, and said: “We hope to witness the conclusion of several commercial contracts between the sides.”

Meredov for his part expressed his country’s interest in developing relations with Iran proposed the creation of a joint economic zone and invited Iranian companies to participate in Turkmenistan’s projects.

Iran and Turkmenistan have called for developing mutual customs ties during a meeting between the customs officials of the two countries in early March.

During the meeting, the Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Mohammad Rezvani-Far, and the head of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan Maksat Hudaykulyev stressed the need for launching a joint customs gate.

The officials discussed major issues in two rounds of meetings. The first round was held at Khorasan Razavi Customs, and the second round was held at Hudan Customs of Turkmenistan.

Boosting cooperation and trade in four customs borders, establishing joint border customs, signing a memorandum on training, holding regular joint meetings between the two sides, enhancing border markets, and removal of restrictions were among the topics discussed during these meetings.

Pointing out that the 13th government pays special attention to the development of economic and border interactions with neighboring countries, Rezvani-Far said that the development of economic interactions, especially with neighboring countries, is a top priority for the incumbent government in Iran.

Calling for strengthening economic ties with Turkmenistan, he highlighted that the two states’ economic cooperation would multiply the volume of trade between the two countries.

Also in mid-February, senior officials from Iran and Turkmenistan’s oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors held talks on the sidelines of the Islamic Republic’s 14th special exhibition in Ashgabat, to explore avenues of mutual cooperation.

Headed by Deputy Oil Minister for Engineering, Research, and Technology Vahid-Reza Zeidifard, the Iranian delegation met and discussed cooperation in various areas with the representatives of Turkmenistan’s national oil, gas, and petrochemical companies in separate meetings.

Speaking in the meeting with the deputy head of Turkmenistan’s national gas company Türkmengaz, Zeidifard introduced the capabilities of Iranian companies active in the oil industry and emphasized the development and cooperation between the two countries.

Pointing to the fact that over 70 percent of the equipment and items used in the Iranian oil industry are manufactured by domestic producers, the official proposed to help Turkmenistan by supplying the country with such equipment.

Expressing the Islamic Republic’s readiness for building refineries, developing oil and gas fields, and supplying high-quality parts and equipment at a competitive price to the Turkmen parties, he invited the oil and gas officials of Turkmenistan to visit Iran to get familiar with the capabilities of the country’s oil industry.

The Turkmen side for his part welcomed the presence of Iranian companies, especially from the Oil Ministry, in that exhibition, expressing hope that the cooperation between the two friendly and brotherly countries would develop.

In another meeting, the vice president of the country’s national oil company Türkmennebit underlined the Iranian oil industry’s ability and capacity, saying: “We will be happy to see the names of more Iranian companies in Turkmenistan in the near future.”

The representative of Turkmenistan’s state chemical company Turkmenhimiya also said in his meeting with the Iranian delegation that very good suggestions have been made for cooperation between the two sides and the company is eager to cooperate with Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) for the benefit of both countries.

At the end of the meetings, it was decided that the Turkmen parties should provide Iran with a list of the equipment and parts needed by their oil industry through diplomatic authorities so that the Iranian side could take action to supply them.

Meanwhile, in mid-February, Iranian Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare Solat Mortazavi said Tehran and Ashgabat have set it on the agenda to expand cooperation for the development of transportation infrastructure in order to increase trade exchanges.

Mortazavi made the remarks following a meeting with Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashit Owezgeldiyewich Meredow.

Speaking in that meeting, Mortazavi said the two countries have historical, cultural, and religious roots and commonalities that can facilitate economic cooperation.

The 13th government and President Ebrahim Raisi’s special foreign policy approach is paying special attention to the neighbors, the official said.

“We follow developing relations with Turkmenistan more sensitively”, he stated, adding that cooperation between the two countries should be developed in all fields, especially in the economic and infrastructure areas.