Azernews.Az

New opportunities emerged in the economic relations between Iran and Turkey following the agreement reached on the nuclear programmed in Geneva.

Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Alireza Bikdeli told Trend news agency on December 11.

Bikdeli said their Turkish friends made contact to use the opportunity for their respective interests. To date, several researches have been carried out and a number of works have been carried out by the Iranian side.

He assessed the business forum held in Istanbul as a new turn and opportunity in the development of relations between the two countries.

"The holding of this forum after the formation of a new Iranian government is a new turning point and opportunity between our countries," Bikdeli said.

This was a forum created which will be an impetus for the prospective development of trade and economic relations between Iran and Turkey, according to the Ambassador. At this event, there were also held negotiations on the problems in the money currency between Iran and Turkey, the ambassador stressed.

"Business people in both countries discussed issues relating to the prospects of the economic activity, investment and money circulation both in Iran and Turkey. Representatives of the Export Promotion Centre of Iran, Turkish Halk Bank and Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade answered questions from entrepreneurs," Bikdeli said.

Iranian-Turkish relations have developed more compared to 2010, Bikdeli stressed adding that the mutual trust and respect between the two countries have increased even more. The Ambassador also emphasised the increase of mutual investments, as well as new experience achieved in a number of trade areas between the two countries.

The Iranian Ambassador stressed that relations between Iran and Turkey will develop more compared to other countries and this business forum will have a great influence on the development of economic relations.

Iran and Turkey plan to increase trade turnover to $35 billion. Between the two countries it amounted to $21.9 billion in 2012.

If Turkey imported around 130,000-140,000 barrels of oil per day in 2012, this volume decreased to 105,000 barrels in 2013 due to international sanctions.

Turkey imported 185,000 barrels of oil per day in 2011. Due to imposing international sanctions in connection with the nuclear programme, Iran faced problems receiving money from Turkey for the exported oil.

An Iranian-Turkish business forum was held yesterday in Istanbul with the participation of entrepreneurs from the two countries. Nearly 200 came from Turkey and Iran, representatives of companies and ministries of trade and ministries of the economy of the two countries participated at the forum.