ISTANBUL, Turkiye: Iran is a “gateway” for Kazakhstan to the countries of Southeast Asia and the African continent, Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said Thursday during a meeting in the capital Astana with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
Tokayev underscored the importance of developing the North–South Transport Corridor and the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway route, according to Kazakhstan’s presidential press service, Akorda.
Pezeshkian paid his first visit to Astana, with the two leaders discussing the strengthening of Kazakh-Iranian cooperation in trade, the economy, transport, logistics, and cultural and humanitarian exchanges.
During the meeting, Tokayev said that over the past 10 months, trade between Kazakhstan and Iran had increased by 40 per cent compared to last year.
“Today, approximately 700 Iranian companies are successfully operating in Kazakhstan, primarily in sectors such as industry, infrastructure, and agriculture,” he said, adding that Kazakh entrepreneurs are also actively investing in mining, transport, logistics and food production in Iran.
Tokayev also expressed his gratitude to Iran for allocating land to Kazakhstan at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, and welcomed Iran’s proposal to create a joint Free Economic Zone in the Mangystau region.
“I am confident that this step will enable the establishment of finished goods production from Iranian raw materials in Kazakhstan and ensure their subsequent delivery to countries in the region,” he said.
The two leaders also agreed to jointly build a historical and cultural complex dedicated to the early Arab philosopher, Abu Nasr al-Farabi, in Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, Pezeshkian emphasised the close cooperation between the two countries within the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
“To date, bilateral trade has increased by 40 per cent. This is a very positive indicator,” he said.
“We previously agreed to increase mutual trade volumes to USD3 billion. We will make every effort to achieve this goal.” – BERNAMA-ANADOLU
