Mehdi Pourghazi, head of the industrial committee of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, said Iranian traders are now faced with several obstacles in transport, customs issues and banking transactions which can only be resolved by the Iranian government.
He urged the government to take immediate action for removing existing barriers since Iranians seek to extend trade activities with Turkmenistan beyond oil and gas buy holding specialized exhibitions.
“Turkmens require equipment for oil and gas industries which offers a golden opportunity to Iranian exporters as well as that investments in power plant constructions which consume gas can take on added importance for Iran,” Pourghazi continued.
He asserted that a variety of consumer goods, light goods and foodstuffs can have a good market in Turkmenistan and Iran needs to use the opportunity ahead which will both boost trade and lay the groundwork for bolstering of political relations between the two sides.
“It should be noted that Turkmenistan is a consumer country and Iran possesses great potentials for launching trade collaboration with the Central Asian state,” said the official adding “however, one of the biggest problems facing the private sector in trade turnover with Turkmenistan is its governmental and quasi-governmental nature which makes it difficult to communicate with them unless the Iranian government backs the private sector.”
He later reiterated that the private sector need to communicate with Turkmen partners as well as that Iranian goods can be introduced to Turkmenistan’s market by opening a commercial office in Ashgabat; “accordingly, Iranian authorities are requested to spare no effort towards improvement of commercial relations between the two countries.”
Given that Iran remains a good mediator for Turkmenistan and other Central Asian states, cooperation between Tehran and Ashgabat marks a great approach for linking Turkmens to the world.
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