Iran seeks to boost trade with Caspian states
By Sara Rajabova
Iran has set up a program to increase the trade turnover with the Caspian littoral states -Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs, Ebrahim Rahimpour said the program envisages raising the trade volume up to $ 10 billion, Fars news agency reported.
Rahimpour added that this issue is on the agenda.
The 37th meeting of the special working group on the legal status of the Caspian Sea at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian states was held in the Iranian city of Ramsar on June 11-12.
Rahimpour stressed that currently, the trade turnover between Iran and Turkmenistan is $2 billion, while $1 billion with Kazakhstan.
He further said the trade turnover between Iran and Azerbaijan is at the unsatisfactory level, noting it is necessary to develop economic relations with Azerbaijan and Russia.
The trade turnover between Iran and Russia amounted to $1.5 billion in 2013, while $ 500 million with Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan and Iran have had diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.
Data from the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan shows that trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $281.03 million in 2013, which is 6.13 percent higher than 2012. The figure stood at $263.785 million in 2012.
Iran imported $73.347 million worth of goods from Azerbaijan in 2013, while its exports to Azerbaijan stood at $207.683 million during the same period.