The volume of mutual trade between Kazakhstan and Iran amounted to $440.1 million

Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Torebayev Kairat held online talks with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran on the preparation of the 17th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

 

During the conversation, the sides noted that the Kazakh-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission is the main platform for discussing issues of bilateral cooperation and the Kazakh side attaches great importance to the upcoming meeting of the Commission.

 

Kairat Torebayev noted that Iran is an important strategic and trade partner for Kazakhstan. The volume of mutual trade between our countries in 2021 amounted to $440.1 million, an increase of 84.8% compared to 2020 ($238.1 million).

 

Within the framework of the upcoming 17th meeting of the IPC, it is planned to discuss a wide range of topical issues of cooperation: in the field of trade, economy and investment, agriculture, healthcare, banking, transport and logistics, energy, education and tourism, environmental protection, customs cooperation, standards, labor and social security, FEZ, legal cooperation.

 

Thus, in the draft Protocol, the Kazakh side proposes to expand the range of exports to the Iranian market by exchanging lists of export goods and searching for potential partners.

 

Moreover, Kazakhstan proposed to create a Business Council to increase the effectiveness of the dialogue between the business of the two countries, bypassing intergovernmental processes

 

It is also noted that TargetAI is already actively negotiating with the Iranian side and offers to create a bilateral group for the development of cooperation in the IT field and the implementation of infrastructure projects to create SmartCity.

 

At the same time, in the field of railway transport, the Kazakh side proposes to make further joint efforts to attract additional cargo traffic, establish favorable tariff conditions on the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran route and carry out work on the organization of transit container transportation from/to India/the Persian Gulf countries - Iran - Kazakhstan, Asian countries and Russia through the ports of Kazakhstan and Iran.

 

In the near future, the Parties plan to conduct additional expert consultations.