In a meeting with Chabahar Port’s officials Utembayev stated that the current trade volume between Astana and Tehran was $2.09 billion, adding, “Our President (Nursultan Nazarbayev) hopes that this number elevates to $10 billion.”
“This can be made possible with Kazakhstan reaching international waters and Chabahar free trade and industrial zone as a link point has an important role in this regard,” he said.
He also referred to the inauguration of the Mashad-Chabahar railway as a constructive move which Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) members could fully make use of.
“Through supplying the necessary means for developing Iran’s transit ways, which are the shortest and most economic routes in the region, our country can transfer its trade point from Pakistan and Dubai to Chabahar,” he noted.
He also expressed hope that both sides would sign an international trade treaty between CFZ and Aktau Port in various fields such as trade, transit and tourism.
Also in this meeting Chabahar Free Trade–Industrial Zone Organization Managing Director Mohammad Taher Bagherizadeh while referring to the unique investment advantages of this zone said, “This port is ready to cooperate in facilitating many of the requirements of Kazakh merchants such as depot, fuel containers for oil related products and logistic commerce.”
“This zone and its specific potentials such as the Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari docks with a total load capacity of 6 million tons can actualize the long waited for dream of many northern lateral states of the Caspian Sea of being connected to international waters,” he said.
He went on to note that this port was also ready to cooperate in the production and export of shrimp products to ECO members, especially Kazakhstan.
Kazakh Ambassador to Tehran Yerik Utembayev is on a two day visit to the Chabahar Free Trade–Industrial Zone and has already visited the Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari docks.
Before this Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Iran Mohammad Yahya Maroufi called Chabahar Port, a very important link between Afghanistan and the rest of the world.
Chabahar Free Trade–Industrial Zone(CFZ) was established in 1992 along with two other free trade zones Qeshm and Kish Island to use global expertise (mostly from South East Asia) as a tool for the development of the country, creation of productive employment, and representation in the global markets.
Chabahar free trade–industrial zone gained importance mainly from its geographical location as the shortest and the most secure route connecting central Asian independent states (CIS) and Afghanistan to warm waters and its proximity to one of the largest oil, gas and mineral resources of the world and as the only ocean port of the country.
RVA/MRK
END
MNA
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