The ministers of foreign affairs of Uzbekistan and Iran, Vladimir
Norov and Manuchehr Mottaki, believe that their countries can improve
trade and economic ties, in particular transport communications and
freight transit, Trend reports.
Uzbek media report that the negotiations were held at a session of the
Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Tehran.
Issues of improving bilateral cooperation in car, railroad and air
transport were raised within the framework of negotiations between the
Iranian Minister of Roads and Transport, Hamid Bekhbekhani, and Uzbek
Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Economic Ties, Investment and
Trade, Eler Ganiyev, in July.
In 1996, the Tedzhek-Serakhs-Mashhad railroad line was launched. It
connects the railroad systems of Central Asia and Iran. In 2006, the
Bafk-Bandar-Abbas branch line was launched, reducing the distance
between Tashkent and Bandar-Abbas, a Iranian port in the Persian Gulf,
by 800km.
A trilateral Uzbek-Afghan-Iranian agreement on international truck
transport and establishment of the Afghan Termez-Mazari-Sharif-Herat
transport corridor with access to Iran’s Bandar-Abbas and Chakhbakhar
in the Persian Gulf still remains a priority.
Iran is one of the top 10 leading economic partners of Uzbekistan.
Trade turnover between the two countries in 2009 reached $572.7
million, in January-March this year it reached $151.3 million.
Uzbekistan has 200 joint Uzbek-Iranian ventures.
