4th Iran-Turkey Border Trade Conference headed by IRI Vice Pres Ali Sa'eidlou and Turkish Planning Minister Jodat Yilmaz and attended by provincial border governors and economic officials of 2 countries opens in Turkey's Agri city Saturday, November 17.
According to an IRNA correspondent in Ankara, the Islamic Republic of Iran Ambassador Bahman Hosseinpour and representatives of the two countries' state and private sector foundations, too, would be among the participants at the important two-day economic conference in Agri, situated at a 150 kilometer distance from Iran-Turkey border.
The first such conference was held in December 2009 in Tehran, the second one in January, 11th, 2010 in Van city of Turkey, and the last one in October, 2010 in Oroumiyeh, the capital city of Iran's East Azarbaijan province.
In Agri conference in addition to surveying ways for expansion of border economic and business trade, the two countries' cooperation in boosting border tourism, border transportations, and border academic cooperation are on agenda of talks, and pursing the progress in construction of a joint Iran-Turkey border market and the latest developments in bilateral border trade would be discussed.
Simultaneously with the 4th Iran-Turkey Border Trade Conference, the merchants, craftsmen and representatives of the two countries' state and private sectors would have separate side workshops.
At the 3rd Iran-Turkey Border Trade Conference which was held in January 2010 in Oroumiyeh, Iran, over 250 Iran and Turk merchants and economic activists were present and 28 cooperation documents were signed.
The letters of agreement were signed by Governor General of West Azarbaijan Province Vahid Jalazadeh on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Governor of Republic of Turkey's Hakari Province Muammar Turker, on behalf of five Turkish provinces.
Activation of Iran-Turkey Sarv border as an international border, opening of the Razi-Kapicoy Border, holding trade exhibitions and investment conferences are among the articles of that 28 article document.
Emphasizing the significance of the bilateral industrial township, exchange of professors and students, conducting joint research and survey projects, academic exchange, holding culture weeks, sponsoring sports events and exchanging sports delegations, establishing the Oroumiyeh-Van air route and ensuring the security of the Iranian tourists and pilgrims' security in Syria were among the other articles of that letter of cooperation, some of which have been implemented.
Border trade, customs affairs, transportations, banking transactions, standards, tourism, academic and scientific cooperation, cultural and sports exchange were the main axes of the letter of cooperation signed between Iran's West Azarbaijan province and the five Turkish provinces of Hakari, Igor, Van and Kars.
Situated in Eastern Anatolia and extending to the Iranian border, is Agri, one of the highest regions in the country with its mountainous formation.
Rising up to a height of 5165 m, Mount Agri (Ararat) is the main peak of Turkey and the symbol of the city.
In May 2010, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan made an unscheduled trip to Tehran in coordination with Brazilian President Lula da Silva to make an agreement to outsource Iranian uranium enrichment to his country to avoid further sanctions on Iran. In supporting Iran after the agreement Erdogan turned the question back on the international community. 'In fact, there is no nuclear weapon in Iran now, but Israel, which is also located in our region, possesses nuclear arms. Turkey is the same distance from both of them. What has the international community said against Israel so far? Is this the superiority of law or the law of superiors?'
This comes after growing pressure from the US and the UK to support sanctions against Iran.
The decision of Turkey to host a radar system to track missiles launched from Iran has been seen by the Iranians as a serious break in relations.
Iran and Turkey also have very close trade and economic relations. Both countries are founding members and key players at the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Turkey receives many Iranian tourists each year and economically benefits from Iranian tourism.
Bilateral trade between the nations is increasing. In 2005, the trade increased to $4 billion from $1 billion in 2000. Iran's gas export to Turkey is likely to be increased. At present, the rate is at 50m cm/d. Turkey imports about 10 billion cubic meters a year of gas from Iran, about 30 percent of its needs. Turkey plans to invest $12 billion in developing phases 22, 23 and 24 of South Pars gas field, a senior Iranian oil official told Shana.ir. Two-way trade was in the range of $10 billion in 2010, and both governments had announced that the figure should reach the $20 billion mark in the not too distant future. 50 percent of the gas from three phases of Iran's South Pars gas field will be re-exported to Europe. Turkey has won the tender for privatization of Razi Petrochemical Complex valued at $650 million (2008). On tourism, every year one million Iranians visit Turkey.
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi announced in October 2012 that the speed of trade exchanges between Iran and Turkey has accelerated and was close of reaching the goal of 30 billion dollars per year. He added that the growing trade relations between Tehran and Ankara indicate the two countries' willingness to strengthen mutual ties.
© IRNA 2012
