Iran and Turkmenistan discuss economic cooperation opportunities
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Turkmenistan Golam Abbas Arbab Khales declared that Tehran and Ashgabat are ready to further develop trade and economic relations. This was reported by the Iranian Agency IRNA. According to IRNA, speaking to reporters, Arbab Khales noted that consultations with Turkmen officials were held as part of the exhibition and conference recently organized in Ashgabat by the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan with the participation of 200 domestic companies in the field of production and services. Arbab Khales noted that both parties discussed Iran’s economic opportunities in the fields of agriculture, technical and engineering services, pharmaceuticals, tourism, the food industry and the production of building materials. The parties expressed hope that such consultations would contribute to intensification of economic relations in private sectors of the two countries. In mid-January 2020, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received newly appointed ambassador of Iran, Gulam Abbas Arbab Khales, who presented his credentials to the head of state. Turkmenistan and Iran have a common border in the Caspian Sea and a long land border of almost 1200 kilometers. The two countries focus on issues related to joint activities in the areas of transport and transit, road construction, the electricity and gas sectors. 142 enterprises of various forms of ownership with the participation of Iranian capital, including representative offices and limited liability partnerships, are registered in Turkmenistan. The Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway opened in 2014, which made it possible to increase transit freight and passenger flows, reduce transportation costs, save travel time and promote economic growth in the regions crossed by the road through increased traffic and rural areas accessibility.
