Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Mazandaran province in Iran’s north is intended to launch air and sea transport routes to Russia’s Astrakhan oblast.

Rabi Fallah Jelodar, Governor General of Mazandaran province proposed launching transport routes to Russia, Mehr news agency reported on February 17.

Jelodar said relative agreements should be signed to expand shipping lines between Mazandaran, which is situated on the Caspian Sea coast and Astrakhan, located on the banks of River Volga.

He made the remarks in a meeting with the deputy governor general of Astrakhan.

Mazandaran is ready to export chicken meat, vegetables, fruits, and cement to Russia, Jelodar said, noting that the expansion of tourism will also be discussed with Astrakhan officials.

In April 2014, Mazandaran and Astrakhan signed a number of memorandums of understanding to boost economic ties.

The two sides vowed to expand cooperation in the field of agriculture, industry and mining, technical and engineering, as well as tourism. They also signed agreements to boost cooperation between public media centers and municipalities.

Mazandaran is one of the most densely populated provinces in Iran and has diverse natural resources, especially large reservoirs of oil and natural gas.

Mazandaran is a major producer of farmed fish and aquaculture provides an important economic addition to traditional dominance of agriculture. Rice, grain, fruits, cotton, tea, tobacco, sugarcane, and silk are produced in the lowland strip along the Caspian shore. Oil wealth has stimulated industries in food processing, cement, textiles, cotton, and fishing (caviar).

Another important contributor to the economy is the tourism industry, as people from all of Iran enjoy visiting the area. The province's pleasant and moderate climate, beautiful natural landscapes, and proximity to Tehran, have led the province to be one of the main recreational and tourism areas of Iran.

Mazandaran is also a fast-growing centre for biotechnology and civil engineering.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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