TEHRAN (Iran News) The meeting brought together officials from Qazvin and Ilam chambers along with delegates from the Chambers of Commerce of Karbala, Samawah, Diwaniyah, Babylon, Kut, and Diyala in Iraq. Provincial authorities and members of the Iranian parliament were also in attendance. The session focused on streamlining trade procedures, increasing commercial exchanges, and creating joint investment opportunities.

Alireza Pazouki, a board member of the Qazvin Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the trade volume between Iran and Iraq in 2023, noting it had reached $11 billion. He stated that the two countries aim to increase this figure to $20 billion, a goal that relies heavily on active participation from both sides’ business communities.

Pazouki also emphasized Qazvin’s significant industrial and agricultural potential. “Despite its limited geographic size, Qazvin is a major producer in the detergent, food, and industrial sectors and can play a vital role in meeting the needs of the Iraqi market,” he said. He invited Iraqi business delegates to visit the province’s factories and industrial sites.

Throughout the session, both sides stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation, enhancing private sector interactions, and expanding economic exchanges.

Mousavi, head of the Babylon Chamber of Commerce, expressed optimism about strengthening economic relations with Iran, especially Qazvin. “This province’s industrial and agricultural capabilities can effectively meet Babylon’s market demands. We hope these engagements will lead to actionable agreements,” he said.

Al-Aifi, head of the Diwaniyah Chamber of Commerce, stated that Diwaniyah has vast agricultural capacity and is seeking complementary technologies and products from Iran. “Our visit to Qazvin’s production facilities introduced us to new opportunities. Strengthening commercial ties is a priority for us,” he added.

Tamimi, head of the Diyala Chamber of Commerce, mentioned that Diyala is interested in joint ventures in the food and pharmaceutical industries. “Exploring Qazvin’s capabilities was extremely valuable. These visits are a prelude to future joint investments,” he said.

Sajed, head of the Kut Chamber of Commerce, welcomed cooperation with Iranian traders, especially in packaging, detergents, and food products. “Qazvin has shown it can be a reliable partner in supplying the Iraqi market. This relationship should continue,” he noted.

The head of the Karbala Chamber of Commerce also spoke at the meeting, saying, “Karbala has always been a gateway for trade with Iran. Collaborating with provinces like Qazvin, which possess strong industrial and export capacities, can help spur regional economic growth. We are ready to establish sustainable trade routes.”

At the end of the official sessions, the Qazvin Chamber of Commerce honored the visiting Iraqi delegations with symbolic cultural gifts as a gesture of appreciation. Mousavi (Babylon), Al-Aifi (Diwaniyah), Tamimi (Diyala), Sajed (Kut), and the head of the Karbala Chamber were all formally recognized.

This friendly and cordial exchange demonstrated the shared commitment of both sides to expanding economic and commercial partnerships between the Iranian and Iraqi private sectors.

The program concluded with a series of expert panels focusing on agriculture, food industries, construction, and leather goods (especially bags and shoes). These sessions took the form of B2B meetings, enabling direct interaction among traders, producers, and economic actors, and laying the groundwork for future collaborations.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) The IRGC unit in Qazvin Province said in an announcement on Thursday that the network was affiliated with hostile and anti-Iran movements, which had formed groups engaged in sabotage acts against national security.

According to the announcement, the network was affiliated to the movements seeking to restore the toppled Pahlavi regime in Iran.

The network was involved in spreading false news against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and was active in several provinces, the IRGC announcement further said.

It added that the anti-Iran network was identified and dismantled in Qazvin Province in cooperation with the IRGC intelligence unit of Isfahan Province, and during a complex operation.

Members of the network have been arrested and handed over to judicial officials, according to the announcement.

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Saying that the development of modern irrigation in the farmlands is one of the prioritized projects of Agriculture Ministry, Ahmad Mostakhdemi, the director for technical and engineering affairs in the province’s Agriculture Department, said, “We are trying to expedite implementation of the plans in this regard”.

The official further announced that 5,000 hectares of farmlands is planned to be equipped with modern irrigation systems in Qazvin province in the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21).

As stated by the project manager of the Agriculture Ministry’s smart irrigation systems development program, so far 2.6 million hectares of the country’s farmlands have been equipped with modern irrigation systems.

Fariborz Abbasi has said that completing semi-finished agriculture projects is the priority of his ministry in the current Iranian calendar year, and expanding the modern irrigation network across the country is of significant importance in this regard.

The deputy agriculture minister noted that the project for implementing irrigation networks in the west and northwest of the country is about 70 percent completed and the ministry is pursuing to get the necessary funding for the remaining 30 percent.

The official expressed hope that considering the budget allocation for the provinces at the beginning of the current Iranian year, the ministry would be able to develop the project in terms of both quantity and quality.

The purpose of implementing the plan of modern irrigation systems is to increase the productivity and sustainability of water and soil resources in the country to ensure the sustainable production of agricultural products.

“Over the past three years, each year, an average of 150,000 hectares of farmlands have been equipped with modern irrigation systems, and we have witnessed a 300 percent jump”, the official said.

Agriculture Ministry is also taking the necessary measures for supporting the domestic manufacturing of equipment used in these systems, he added.

Back in September 2021, Abbasi had said that 95 percent of the equipment used in such systems is manufactured inside the country.

The official said the ministry has comprehensive plans for indigenizing the knowledge for the production of the other five percent as well.

He pointed to the filters and drippers in modern irrigation systems as the equipment whose domestic production is on the agenda and predicted: “In a two- or three-year plan, part of the imported equipment and supplies will be produced by domestic manufacturers.”

Abbasi mentioned the quality improvement of modern irrigation systems as one of the main strategies of Agriculture Ministry and said: “We believe that along with the quantitative development of new irrigation systems, quality improvement should also take place to improve productivity and ensure food security by increasing water efficiency in the best possible way.”

He further underlined educating farmers, officials, and managers of companies active in the field of production and implementation of new irrigation systems as one of the programs that his ministry is pursuing in order to improve the quality and optimal use of these systems.

Referring to the activity of 2,400 private companies in the development of new irrigation systems in the agricultural sector, Abbasi said: “The private sector in this field includes 350 consulting companies, 1,600 contractors, 400 manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, and a number of monitoring firms.”

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Kazakhstan Ambassador to Tehran Mr. Askhat Orazby during his visit to Qazvin Province and his meeting with officials and members of Qazvin Chamber of Commerce Industries, Mines and Agriculture (QCCIMA) announced readiness of his country for bilateral cooperation with Qazvin Province.

During the meeting, Mr. Orazby felicitated the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, adding that he was impressed after visiting the production units and industrial parks of Qazvin, adding that undoubtedly Qazvin is one of the most advanced and strongest provinces of Iran in terms of economic capacities and Kazakhstan is ready to cooperate with this province which will bear positive fruits for both sides.

He noted that Kazakhstan is one of the few countries which did not breach its commitment to Iran under the U.S. sanctions threats and this will lead to more cooperation between both states.

He noted that he has visited several provinces in Iran recently but Qazvin Province condition is incomparable with other provinces and this province has exported agro products like apple to Kazakhstan.

Orazby added that Iran and Kazakhstan are interested in expanding relations but recent costs have created hurdles, adding  Qazvin Province is actually pioneer comparing to other provinces to boost cooperation with Kazakhstan.

He reiterated that some of Iranian goods are welcomed by Kazakh people but the long distance between both countries has been a major hurdle.

He added that Kazakhstan has attracted over $30b investment in 20 years and 70 percent has been foreign investment which has entered into the Central Asia and it is a major achievement and an indicator that foreign investors welcome conditions in Kazakhstan for foreign investment.

Orazby added that in the latest World Bank ranking, Kazakhstan has ranked 25 among 190 countries in the world while in the previous ranking Kazakhstan was at 28^th place.

Meanwhile head of QCCIMA Mr. Mehdi Bakhshandeh, for his part, said that the province welcomes any bilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan and urged Kazakhstan to ease the ground for exports of Qazvin Province to the country and other countries in the Central Asia.

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Also, two smugglers were arrested, he said, adding that unfortunately one police officer injured during the clash with the armed smugglers.

The Islamic Republic has been actively fighting drug trades originating from Afghanistan in the past four decades, despite its high economic and human costs. The country has spent more than hundreds of millions of dollars on sealing its borders and preventing the transit of narcotics destined for European, Arab and Central Asian countries.

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The exports of non-oil commodities from Qazvin province, northern Iran, stood at $514 million during the past nine months through Dec. 21, the deputy governor of Qazvin said.

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The scheme, devised by Qazvin province’s cultural heritage department general, pursues an objective of empowering craftspeople and promoting their skills which have been handed down from generation to generation, Mehr reported on Tuesday.

A top tourist destination, Qazvin, the capital city of the province, is filled with centuries-old mosques, caravansaries, madrasas, pubic bathhouses and bazaars amongst others. It was used to be the capital of the Persian Empire under Safavids from 1548 to 1598.

PHOTO: An exterior view of the Qazvin Jameh Mosque

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The vast, beautifully restored Qajar-era era (1789–1925) caravanserai is located in the city of Qazvin, which used to be the capital of the Persian Empire under Safavids from 1548-98.

Sa’d al-Saltaneh now exhibits exquisitely crafted wares such as traditional personal ornamentations, paintings, ceramics, carpets and potteries across its long, vaulted passageways and arcades.

The vast monument also houses various galleries, workshops as well as coffee shops and restaurants, where visitors hangout.

Along the major roads that connect major Iranian cities one can spot many abandoned caravanserais that in their heyday brought comfort to travelers and their livestock.

For the time being, such roadside inns have largely lost their original usage though their atmospheric architecture comprising adjoining arcades, chambers, porticos, domes and courtyards still draw avid visitors.

CAPTION: People visit Sa’d al-Saltaneh Caravanserai in an undated photo.

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