BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Iran considers Pakistan a long-term strategic partner in trade, industry, and economy.
This was reported by the Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade, citing Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Seyed Mohammad Atabek's remarks at the 10th meeting of the Iran-Pakistan Joint Trade Committee held in Pakistan.
“Tehran sees no limitations in comprehensively developing cooperation with Islamabad. Iran and Pakistan can use mutual potential to develop regional cooperation, enhance ties with ports and border trade,” he noted.
The minister said that the post-war situation has created opportunities for the two neighboring countries to increase solidarity in the region, facilitate bilateral trade relations, and mutually satisfy their needs.
“The goal is to increase the current annual trade turnover between Iran and Pakistan by $10 billion. Currently, a preferential trade agreement is being implemented between Iran and Pakistan. It is hoped that the two countries will move towards free trade by increasing the number of products within the framework of this agreement,” he noted.
Atabek also noted that the potential of ports and shared borders can be an important point to help increase the volume of joint trade through imports and exports. Iran is ready to develop maritime cooperation with Pakistan and use the potential of the Karachi and Gwadar ports. In turn, Iran's borders have significant potential to increase bilateral trade with Pakistan.
He added that the strong will and mutual relations between Iran and Pakistan aim to strengthen the private sector, investment, border, and regional cooperation.
The 10th meeting of the Joint Trade Committee between Iran and Pakistan is being held in Islamabad from August 3-5.
