The Kazakh-Iranian intergovernmental commission is scheduled for the beginning of 2022

During the visit of Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kairat Torebayev to Tehran, negotiations were held with a number of government agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. During the meetings, the current issues of the development of bilateral relations, the deepening of trade ties, as well as the agenda of the agenda and the timing of the Kazakh-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission were discussed.

Thus, at a meeting at the Ministry of Industry, Industry and Trade of Iran, the parties stated their interest in increasing trade and economic cooperation.

Kairat Torebayev noted that "mutual trade between our countries has a great unrealized potential. Our immediate goal is to return to the volume of trade turnover 10 years ago."

The Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan informed his Iranian counterpart about the program being implemented in Kazakhstan to create a national and Eurasian commodity distribution system (ETS). He suggested that the Iranian side consider the possibility of connecting to the commodity distribution system. "For Iran, logistics centers on the territory of Kazakhstan can become a "single window", a direct access point to the market of the Eurasian Union. And at the same time, the reverse flow of goods from Kazakhstan and from the EAEU market to Iran will also be ensured," Torebayev said.

Vice Minister of Industry, Industry and Trade of Iran Alireza Peyman Pak informed the Kazakh delegation that the Iranian government is developing a new program of foreign economic cooperation, in which the Eurasian Economic Union is a priority. "Kazakhstan and Russia occupy special positions for us in the EAEU",- said the Iranian Vice Minister.

Mr. Peyman Pak assured that the Ministry of Industry, Industry and Trade of Iran "is ready to provide maximum assistance in promoting Kazakh products in Iran."

The parties also discussed the possibility of establishing joint ventures in Kazakhstan and agreed to exchange lists of importers and goods in demand by the economies. The issues of increasing traffic along the East Caspian branch of the India-Iran-EAEU transport corridor were also considered.

In addition, a number of problematic issues hindering mutual trade were discussed.

Negotiations were also held with the Deputy Minister for Trade Development of the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad Omid Gilanpour.

This Ministry is a co-chair of the Kazakh-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission from the Iranian side.

The parties discussed the possibility of holding the next IPC in early 2022, as well as issues that may be put on the agenda.

One of the topics of the meeting was the possibility of creating joint export-oriented enterprises for processing agricultural products on the territory of Kazakhstan. The Iranian side also expressed hope for Kazakhstan's assistance in deepening trade and economic ties with the Eurasian Economic Union.

The development of logistics routes along the South-North corridor was discussed by Kairat Torebayev with Vice Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Chairman of the Board and President of Railways of Iran Saeed Rasouli.

"COVID has significantly changed the formats of trade all over the world. China's border bans encourage the development of alternative routes. Within this framework, the Iranian direction becomes interesting," Kairat Torebayev noted.

The issue of the quality of delivery, tariff formation and terms of service of transit containers (transit-time) was raised.

The Iranian Vice Minister expressed full readiness for cooperation, assuring that "Iran's railways are ready to consider the issue of reducing tariffs." In addition, he assured that Iran is ready to become a logistics platform for the transportation of Kazakhstani goods to other regions.

Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan discussed issues of deepening business cooperation between the two countries with President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture of Iran Gholamhossein Shafei.

According to Mr. Shafei, the Iranian side sees the potential for cooperation with Kazakhstan in the oil and gas sector, agriculture, metallurgy, etc. He also said that the Iranian side sees great potential for industrial cooperation – the creation of production facilities on the territory of Kazakhstan for the subsequent export of products to Iran and third countries.

In addition to official negotiations, Kairat Torebayev held meetings with representatives of the business community: retailers, traders, logistics, financial, engineering and other companies.