Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran and Azerbaijan are holding discussions on round-the-clock work of the Poldesht-Shahtakhti border checkpoint.

The executive director of Iran’s Maku free economic area, Hossein Forouzan told Azerbaijani reporters in Iran that his country attaches great importance to Poldesht-Shahtakhti border checkpoint, which is located on Iran’s border with Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Trend Agency reported.

He said that currently a discussion is underway on the issue of the Poldesht-Shahtakhti border checkpoint’s round-the-clock work.

Forouzan went on to add that the issue of switching the border checkpoint's operation to a round-the-clock mode was discussed 10 days ago by the Iranian side at a meeting with officials from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Meanwhile, Mayor of the Iranian city of Poldasht Akbar Abdollah Nejad said a new terminal is being constructed on Iran’s checkpoint "Poldasht -Shahtakhti" and should be completed in the next six months, he told Azerbaijani reporters on a visit to Iran.

He said Iran intends to increase the cargo transportation volumes through the "Poldasht -Shahtakhti" checkpoint.

"At present, the relevant infrastructure is being constructed. The terminal and an administrative building of the checkpoint will be constructed within six months. Afterwards, all conditions will be created for transit vehicles to cross the border,” Abdollah Nejad said.

Abdollah Nejad noted that $7 million was invested in the construction of a new terminal and an administrative building of the checkpoint, adding the construction works are carried out on an area of 14,400 square meters.

He also said more than 200 people cross the Azerbaijani-Iranian border through the "Poldasht -Shahtakhti" checkpoint each day.

"The cargo worth $1.2 million was transported through the checkpoint from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to Iran in 2013. The figure has been $800,000 since early 2014,” Abdollah Nejad said.

Fruits, vegetables, construction materials and food are mainly exported from Iran’s Poldasht to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Nakhchivan is one of Azerbaijan's regions which has been under blockade over the last 20 years due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

There are six border checkpoints on the Iranian-Azerbaijani border including Julfa, Shakhtakhti, Astara, Bilasuvar and Imishli. Horadiz border checkpoint hasn't been operating for a long time.

Recently, a new passenger terminal has been established on the Bilasuvar border checkpoint (Iran).

Since February 2010, Iran unilaterally abolished the visa regime for citizens of Azerbaijan, with the exception of journalists.

Azerbaijan and Iran also agreed within an intergovernmental commission to simplify the visa regime and the introduction of disposable (30-day) visa for entering of the Iranian citizens into the territory of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The visa fee is ten euros.

Iran and Azerbaijan have had diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran stood at $144.045 million in January-September 2014, according to the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Azerbaijan.

In the past nine months, goods worth $115.6 million were imported to Azerbaijan, and the goods exported by the country amounted to $28.45 million.