East Azarbaijan province, Armenia's Armavir province sign MOU

Tabriz, Dec 25, IRNA

Iran's East Azarbijan province and Republic of Armenia's Armavir province signed here Monday a 25-article MOU.

East Azarbaijan's Governor General Ahmad Alirezabeigi in a meeting with reporters pointed to his recent trip to the Republic of Armenia's Armavir Province and called the establishment of joint economic zones in the two countries' borders as one of the subject of discussions between the two countries' officials.

'Iran and Armenia officials have declared the prospect of 3 billion dlrs for the two countries' trade exchange and East Azarbijan is trying to do its best to have a role in achieving this national economic prospect.'

Alirezabeigi underlined that this was the third meeting among Eest Azarbijan and Armenia economic activists adding that there were good agreements between the two countries' officials in all fields and in particular in the field of agriculture.

'Aras Free Zone has a good capacity to be used as a joint economic zone between Iran and Armenia and can help facilitate business between the two countries.

In recent years, Iran and its Northern neighbor Armenia have boosted cooperation, signed agreements on energy cooperation and agreed to cooperate in technology and research and to enhance ties in commerce and economy.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Armenian counterpart pledged in December 2011 to further expand 'high-level relations' between their nations and, in particular, give new impetus to the implementation of joint energy projects that have fallen behind schedule.

In early October, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian met at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss bilateral ties and regional and international issues.

In a relevant event in June, a senior Iranian official announced Iran and Armenia's plans to establish a joint free trade zone.

Caretaker of Aras Free Trade Zone Sadeq Najafi made the remarks in a meeting with the governor-general of Sionik province, during which the two sides inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in investment, trade and environmental sectors.

'In this MoU, it was agreed that an Iranian-Armenian free trade zone will be established for joint investment by Aras Free Trade Zone and Sionik province,' Najafi said.

The two sides also agreed to create a joint border market at Nordouz border which is located within the boundaries of Aras Free Trade Zone, he added.