ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 17. Kazakhstan and Iran are enhancing their economic synergies through the execution of new strategically pivotal accords, Trend reports.
Last weekend, a business forum between Kazakhstan and Iran took place in Tehran, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran, gathering more than 50 Kazakh entrepreneurs and 230 Iranian counterparts. The forum was organized under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan's Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliev, and Iran's Minister of Agriculture, Gholamreza Nouri Gezeldjeh. In their speeches, the ministers emphasized the significant potential for mutually beneficial cooperation and the importance of further developing trade and economic ties between the two countries.
The forum program included B2B meetings and a signing ceremony. During Kazakhstan's trade and economic mission, 10 commercial documents were signed, totaling $92.8 million, marking an important step in strengthening trade relations between Iran and Kazakhstan. In turn, Kazakhstan expressed its readiness to supply 75 types of products worth $250 million to the Iranian market.
As part of his working visit, Arman Shakkaliev also held negotiations with representatives of Iran's central government bodies, including the ministers of agriculture, industry, mines, and trade, as well as the minister of roads and urban development.
Kazakhstan continues to attach great importance to the development of bilateral cooperation in agriculture, as well as increasing the supply of agricultural products to Iran. Kazakhstan is particularly interested in boosting the export of wheat, barley, flour, and vegetable oils. Iran has traditionally been one of Kazakhstan's key partners in grain exports, and in the coming years, Kazakhstan aims to increase its grain exports.
During a meeting with Iran’s Minister of Agriculture, Gholamreza Nouri Gezeldjeh, the General Director of JSC "Center for Trade Policy Development 'QazTrade'", Aitmukhammed Aldazharov, proposed opening a partner office of Kazakhstan’s National Institute for the Promotion of Exports of Goods and Services, "QazTrade," in Tehran. This office would help Kazakh entrepreneurs find new partners quickly and efficiently promote their products in the Iranian market.
Additionally, during the visit, Kazakhstan's Minister of Trade also met with the "Korafarin" Entrepreneurial Council, which includes 100 of Iran's largest entrepreneurs. The meeting discussed prospects for expanding trade and economic cooperation and issues related to production and demand for goods in various industries, from chemicals to textiles and forestry.
To note, as a result of last year, trade turnover between the two countries reached $340 million, which is a 12.3 percent increase compared to the previous year. Special attention was given to agriculture, which is one of the priority areas of bilateral cooperation. In the 12 months of 2024, the turnover of agricultural products between Kazakhstan and Iran amounted to $219.8 million, marking a 33.3 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
