TEHRAN (Iran News) Ramazan Bahrami, President of the Iran–Turkmenistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said the exhibition is being organized under the cooperation protocols between the two countries. “Earlier this year, Turkmenistan held its own exhibition in Gorgan, and now Iran is reciprocating with this event on Turkmen soil,” he explained.

Bahrami described Turkmenistan as one of Iran’s most secure neighbors for trade development, noting its 1,200 kilometers of land and sea borders with Iran. He said the current trade volume stands at around $600 million, adding that Turkmenistan can serve as a transit and pilot hub for Iranian exports to Central Asia, China, and Russia.

Highlighting the emphasis of both presidents on expanding economic cooperation, Bahrami said the upcoming exhibition offers a valuable opportunity for Iran’s provinces to present their industrial and production capabilities. “The private sector can make the most of Turkmenistan’s market potential and its transit routes,” he said.

According to Bahrami, last year marked the beginning of a new phase in trade relations between the two countries, with close coordination between the Joint Chamber, Iran’s Embassy in Ashgabat, and Turkmenistan’s Embassy in Tehran. He expressed optimism that with active participation from the private sector and producers, the $3 billion trade target is achievable.

Inviting Iranian businesspeople to take part, he stressed that participation in the exhibition could mark a turning point in bilateral trade, investment, and economic relations.

Referring to the event as the first exhibition of Iran’s export capabilities to be held in the city of Balkanabat, Bahrami called it “a milestone in strengthening the economic partnership between the two nations.” He added that from the initial stages of planning in Golestan Province, local authorities and economic organizations worked together to ensure a well-organized and effective Iranian presence.

Bahrami emphasized Golestan’s central role in the event, noting that many members of the Chamber’s board of directors are business leaders from the province. “With its extensive capacities, Golestan can play a key role in deepening Iran–Turkmenistan commercial ties,” he said, adding that logistical and accommodation arrangements for the Iranian delegation are already complete.

“Our goal is to ensure that Iran’s participation reflects the country’s true industrial and production capabilities,” he stated. “We want Iranian pavilions to represent national quality and prestige.”

Bahrami also noted the significant growth in bilateral economic cooperation in recent years, with trade volume reaching $600 million and strong potential for further expansion. “In the past two years, extensive efforts at both national and provincial levels have yielded tangible results, now visible in events like this,” he said.

He concluded that the participating businesses are approaching the exhibition with a professional and trade-oriented outlook, seeking real partnerships rather than symbolic engagement. “This event can serve as a launchpad for showcasing the genuine potential of Iran’s private sector in the region,” he remarked.

“With the coordination between the Golestan Governor’s Office, the Iran–Turkmenistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, and other relevant agencies,” Bahrami affirmed, “we are confident that this exhibition will be held in a dignified and impactful manner, befitting the Islamic Republic of Iran. It will also reinforce Golestan Province’s pivotal role in the country’s economic diplomacy.”

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TEHRAN (Iran News) On the sidelines of the Iran Expo 2025 international exhibition, a joint meeting between Iranian and Turkmen business leaders and economic actors highlighted the strong will of both nations to deepen their economic ties. Organized in collaboration with the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, the meeting provided a platform for dialogue and exchange of innovative ideas aimed at facilitating and expanding bilateral trade and industrial cooperation.

In his address, Payam Bagheri, Vice President of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the longstanding and stable relationship between the two neighboring countries, while stressing the need to boost economic exchanges.

“Despite considerable potential in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and mining, the current volume of trade between Iran and Turkmenistan remains insufficient,” Bagheri stated. “Serious efforts are needed to significantly increase this volume.”

He reiterated that streamlined banking procedures and improvements in transportation and logistics are vital to achieving this goal.

Bagheri described Iran Expo 2025 as an ideal venue to enhance economic interactions and showcase Iranian products and cutting-edge technologies. He also expressed the Chamber’s readiness to leverage its resources to further develop economic engagement with Turkmenistan.

Ramazan Bahrami, President of the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Chamber, emphasized the crucial role of the private sector in strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

“Mutual trust between the public and private sectors can pave the way for major achievements in trade,” Bahrami noted. He called for greater cooperation in areas such as transit, investment, and the establishment of joint commissions to expand bilateral trade.

Bahrami also underlined the importance of setting up a Turkmenistan Trade Center in Iran to facilitate the exchange of goods and services.

Participants at the meeting also tackled key challenges hampering trade development, most notably banking issues and delays in financial transactions—areas that many believe require urgent governmental attention. Transportation and logistical hurdles were also cited as barriers needing resolution to enable smoother trade flows.

Speakers highlighted the potential for collaboration in a range of sectors including energy, transportation, agriculture, and emerging technologies.

Bagheri stated that both countries could initiate joint ventures in fields such as energy, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Transit of goods and infrastructure enhancement are key priorities in advancing mutual trade.

A notable segment of the meeting was dedicated to the participation of tech and knowledge-based companies at Iran Expo 2025. These firms are seen as a major asset for boosting high-tech exports and diversifying trade channels.

Seyed Hossein Mirshafi, an advisor to the Minister of Roads and Urban Development, emphasized the need to support knowledge-based firms in preparing for international exhibitions and penetrating global markets.

“For these companies to make a meaningful impact, they must attend exhibitions with proper planning and a clear understanding of target markets,” Mirshafi said.

Bayram Yazmuhamedov, Head of the Chamber of Commerce of Mary Province and a representative of Turkmenistan’s Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the exhibition as a strategic opportunity for strengthening trade ties.

“Iran Expo serves as a vital industrial and technological event that can play a key role in increasing trade exchanges,” Yazmuhamedov remarked. He expressed optimism about exploring Iran’s industrial capabilities and declared Turkmenistan’s readiness to open a new chapter of cooperation.

He noted that such meetings could lead to joint projects in energy, transportation, agriculture, and technology, ushering in a new era of partnership.

All participants underscored the importance of future-oriented strategies and careful planning to develop trade and investment ties. Given the vast economic potential and the strong political will on both sides, the future of Iran-Turkmenistan relations looks bright.

The meeting, held as part of the Iran Expo 2025, offered exceptional opportunities for business leaders and entrepreneurs from both nations to take meaningful steps toward deepening economic cooperation and exploring new avenues of international engagement.

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Oji who arrived in Turkmenistan on Wednesday for a two-day visit, met with top Turkmen officials and exchanged views on various issues including gas trade, exports of oil products and technical-engineering services, and equipment, Shana reported.

The Head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Majid Chegeni, Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs and Trade Ahmad Asadzadeh, the Adviser to the Minister and the Head of the Ministerial Office Payam Kehtari also accompanied Oji during his visit.

Carrying a message from Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi to his Turkmen counterpart Berdimuhamedov, Oji also talked to Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Deputy Prime Minister for Oil and Gas Batyr Amanov.

On December 19, 2023, Raisi, in his phone talks with Berdimuhamedov, expressed his satisfaction with the considerable growth of bilateral relations, particularly the increase in the two nations’ trade volume, in recent years.

The Iranian president also stressed the need to speed up the implementation of the energy, transport, and transit agreements reached between the two countries during the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission meeting.

Berdimuhamedov, for his part, expressed his gratitude to Iran for its active participation in the joint commission and side exhibitions, saying Turkmenistan is ready to broaden cooperation with Iran and put bilateral energy, transport, transit, and cultural agreements into action.

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

During the meeting, 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 custom 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 last February, senior officials from Iran and Turkmenistan’s oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors have 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 can take action to supply them.

In last February, also 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.

Meanwhile, Meredow referred to the good relations between the two countries and existing cultural commonalities, saying that the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Committee is a suitable platform for finding solutions for developing economic relations and removing obstacles to cooperation.

He added that the public and private sectors of Turkmenistan are also fully prepared to hold an exclusive exhibition in Tehran.

Emphasizing the need to develop the road and rail transport infrastructure, the Turkmen Minister said the Islamic Republic of Iran can be a gateway for Central Asia’s access to the Persian Gulf states.

The 15th exclusive exhibition of Iranian products kicked off in Turkmenistan’s capital city Ashgabat in mid-February, 2023.

The inaugural ceremony of the exhibit was attended by Mortazavi as well as some Turkmen officials.

The exhibition was participated by more than 90 Iranian companies active in the fields of agriculture and food industry, construction industry, cement, oil and energy, petrochemical products, auto parts, technical and engineering services, medicine, and medical equipment.

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Referring to the holding of the 17th Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Committee meeting in Ashgabat and the visit of the Iranian delegation to Turkmenistan, Mehdi Zeyghami said: “This trip was very fruitful because the minister of foreign affairs of Turkmenistan and the Iranian head of the joint committee are working to create a comprehensive economic and trade document between the two countries.”

According to Zeyghami, the Islamic Republic is going to dispatch a commercial attaché to Turkmenistan over the next four months to pursue the drafting of the mentioned document.

Saying that last year $500 million of trade exchange was done between Iran and Turkmenistan, the official noted: “This year we will witness the same amount of trade between the two countries, and according to the agreements made, there is a possibility of significant growth in trade exchange.”

He further referred to Turkmenistan’s interest in participating in Iran’s specialized exhibitions, saying: “The two countries have good interactions in the field of construction materials and technical and engineering services, but there is no extensive interaction in other specialized fields such as industrial machinery, knowledge-based industries, and medical equipment, and the visit of Turkmen companies to Iranian exhibitions will create the opportunity for such interactions.”

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The documents include  cooperation in areas of electricity transfer, comprehensive cooperation in areas of diplomacy and customs, and higher education.

The agreements were signed at the presence of Presidnet Ebrahim Raisi of Iran and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan.

Berdimuhamedow arrived in the Iranian capital on Tuesday for a meeting with Iranian officials, including President Raisi.

He is leading a politico-economic delegation, according to official news agency IRNA.

Berdimuhamedow met with Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, the head of Iran’s Expediency Council. “Inspired by the model of the Islamic Republic, we established the Assembly of Elders and Expedients in Turkmenistan,” he said in the meeting, according to IRNA.

He added, “We consider Iran as our second country. Our relations are higher than normal relations between two neighboring countries, and as the Supreme Leader of Iran has said, our relations are kinship relations. Each era has its own characteristics, but our relations have always been at the best level. Iran has a special place with us and we stand by each other in sadness and happiness.”

Larijani also praised the Iran-Turkmenistan relations. “We are two neighbors with a long common border and our religious, cultural, historical and other connections bind us together. During the last 50 years, we have seen the least challenges at the borders and, God willing, by strengthening these good relations, the bond between the two countries will become stronger,” he said.

He added, “Paying attention to the historical and religious culture and identity is very necessary to maintain authority, especially at a time when the West has attacked the culture and identity of Muslim countries and the region.”

Referring to the abundance of energy resources in Turkmenistan and the construction of the Friendship Dam, Larijani said, “It is necessary to deepen and expand economic discussions. Two countries can overcome the challenges and raise the level of their economic relations to a much higher level than the current situation.”

Berdimuhamedow also said, “Your reference to the Friendship Dam was a subtle point. The water issue is a big problem in the region and some want to violate international laws. It is necessary for us to be serious about the issue of water and prevent problems in the water field.”

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Groups of Iranian artists and artisans attended the cultural festival to showcase their latest works in numerous exhibitions.

In addition, several Iranian bands are also in Turkmenistan performing concerts of traditional music.

Several acclaimed Iranian movies have been selected to be screened during the cultural festival, which ends on Tuesday with a special ceremony at the Palace of Mukams.

As part of the cultural festival, several exhibitions were inaugurated on Monday by Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili, and his Turkmen counterpart at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ashgabat.

The festival is organized based on an agreement signed by Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdimuhamedow, Iranian ambassador to Ashgabat, Gholam-Abbas Arbabkhales said in a press release published on Monday.

“We are happy that this great cultural event is being organized eight months after signing the agreement, which recognizes the two countries’ desire to expand cultural relations,” he added.

He noted that the two countries have a lot in common leading to improve cultural ties and cooperation on political and economic issues in the region.

He said that Iran welcomes any plan from Turkmenistan to organize a cultural festival in Tehran in the near future.

In the new administration under Ebrahim Raisi, Iran is seeking to boost cultural relations with countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

On October 4, 2022, Culture Minister Esmaeili and his Tajik counterpart, Zulfiya Davlatzoda, signed a memorandum of understanding in Tehran, just one day after opening a Tajik cultural festival at the Abbasabad Cultural Complex in the Iranian capital.

In November, over 50 Iranian painters, calligraphers, storytellers, musicians and artists from other fields organized workshops, exhibitions and performances in an Iranian cultural week in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Earlier in June, Azerbaijani Culture Minister Anar Karimov visited Tehran to discuss the expansion of relations on films, visual arts, literature and other cultural fields with his Iranian counterpart.

Photo: A group of Iranian acrobats performs during the opening ceremony of the Iranian Culture Days at the Palace of Mukams in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on February 12, 2023.

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Speaking in a press conference and touching upon the time for resumption of gas import from Turkmenistan, Mohsen Khojaste Mehr said the deal is being finalized and talks are progressing well. He also said that talks with Turkey for renewal of gas exports to this country are underway.

The CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company also stressed the need to absorb and transfer technology in the company, and said: “Underground capital is not our (Iran’s) competitive advantage. It can be an advantage when we can recover it.”

Khojasteh Mehr said:  “Today, there are a total of 1,200 billion barrels of crude oil equivalent of underground hydrocarbon resources located in 400 oil and gas reservoirs in Iran. The world has become more complex and the era of cheap oil production is over.”

Pointing out that in the current situation, less than 30% of the available resources can be extracted with the available technologies, the Deputy Oil Minister said: “This has a meaning; if we want to turn existing resources into wealth, we must use science and technology.”

Khojasteh Mehr, stating that science and technology bring both wealth and power, said, “If we are after power, we must get help from science and technology.”

“Since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, we have sold more than one trillion dollars of oil. The main question is: “What is the share of technology?””

He added: “In the National Iranian Oil Company, according to the emphasis of the upstream documents, we want to have a significant share to generate wealth from underground reservoirs, and in this way we must use technologies maximally.”

Khojasteh Mehr went on to say that the ministry will do its best to supply gas for the people in the winter but urged the people to be responsible in gas consumption by stopping overconsumption. He reiterated the households should manage their gas consumptions in order that the industries can have access to the gas supply and gas can also be exported and turned into the wealth.

On the developmental project of Phase 11 of South Pars, he said the project is progressing very well and very fast, adding that next year some part of the Phase 11 production will join to the grid.

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Speaking to ILNA, Mohammadnejas said that rail and road exports and imports to and from Turkmenistan will be possible if there are Turkmen carts and trailers at the borders and Iranian drivers and their trailers are not allowed to enter Turkmenistan’s land.

On the trend of Iran-Turkmenistan trade after the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, he said after the pandemic, all the systems in the world faced challenges and crippled with major problems and changes, and regarding Iran and Turkmenistan trade ties, he can point to the closure of their borders.

He added that Iran and Turkmenistan borders were closed for 10 months and they were reopened under certain condition and the trade resumed.

Mohammadnejad went on to say that due to the lockdown in Turkmenistan and the fourth wave of the virus in Iran, there is no exact details on the amount of the road trade like the pre-COVID-19 era but the three borders of Inchebron, Sarakhs and Lotfabad are active and the trade with Turkmenistan and other countries continue like the past.

He reiterated that exports via railway system are active but the road trade has been stopped and the border markets due to the lack of traffic of trucks have been almost idle.

Mohammadnejad noted that Iranian drivers and their trucks and trailers are not allowed to enter Turkmenistan and exports and imports to inside Turkmenistan are carried out through Turkmen trailers and carts.

He said Iran’s major imports from Uzbekistan are carried out via the Lotf Abad border while Iran’s exports to Tajikistan are done via this border but due to dispute between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, Iran’s exports to Tajikistan are done via Uzbekistan.

Earlier this month the Iranian Expediency Council okayed  the creation of a free trade and industrial zone in Incheh-Borun in Golestan province on the border with Turkmenistan. Incheh-Boron is one of the key points along the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran rail corridor (north-south).

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Speaking in the meeting, Osouli underlined the long history of Iran-Turkmenistan relations as two neighboring countries with deep cultural ties and introduced some of the activities and experiences of KEPCO in the Caspian Sea region, Shana reported on Saturday.

He pointed to the capabilities and achievements of his company in deep-water operations.

The official mentioned the formation of the South Caspian Oil Research Consortium, blocking and prioritization of exploration operations as well as signing an agreement with Azerbaijan for cooperation in Caspian Sea’s Alborz block as some of the important measures taken by KEPCO over the past few years.

Osouli also referred to the establishment of shipbuilding facilities in northern Iran and the construction of Caspian and Amir-Kabir platforms, as well as the construction of multi-purpose vessels by Iran and noted that the Islamic Republic has the potential to provide services and cooperate with Turkmenistan in the mentioned fields.

Ghorbanov for his part welcomed the expansion of cooperation between the two countries, especially in technical and engineering sectors, and underlined the important role of Turkmenistan embassy as a bridge of communication through which logical and executive proposals will be provided to Iranian companies operating in Turkmenistan.

Referring to the cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan, the Turkmen ambassador expressed hope that Turkmenistan would also be able to use Iran’s services and technical knowledge in deep-water operations and that a meeting of the two countries’ economic committee would be held as soon as possible.

“There is great potential for expanding Turkmen-Iranian energy cooperation in the Caspian Sea, which could contribute to the two countries’ economic development,” he emphasized.

KEPCO is a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) founded in January 1998. The company is active in a variety of oil and gas-related areas including exploration, development, and production in the South Caspian Sea and three littoral provinces of Mazandaran, Golestan, and Gilan in Iran.

KEPCO supervises all the contracts signed by local and international companies regarding the exploration and development of hydrocarbon reserves in the area including the pertinent environmental matters.

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