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Turkey-Iran Interaction Should Propel SMEs

Turkey-Iran Interaction  Should Propel SMEs
Turkey-Iran Interaction  Should Propel SMEs

Iran and Turkey are the major driving force behind the D-8 organization, said Deputy Minister of Industries, Mines, and Trade, Seyyed Mohammad-Ali Seyyed Abrishami, in a meeting with deputy head of Turkey’s Small and Medium Development Industry Organization, Tona Shaheen.

The Iranian official called for the expansion of cooperation between Tehran and Ankara in developing small industries.

“There has been positive interaction between the policymakers and private sectors of both countries. We hope that such interaction will lead to the development of small industries,” he was quoted by IRNA as saying.

Lauding Turkey’s move to establish an independent body for development of small and medium industries (SMEs), he expressed hope that Iran can make use of Turkey’s experience in developing small industries.  

His remarks came after industry ministers and other high ranking officials and experts from the D-8 member states, as well as representatives from the private sector and local/international organizations took part in a 3-day meeting, which was hosted by Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade in collaboration with  Trade Promotion Organization (TPO).

D-8, also known as Developing-8, is an organization that seeks to develop cooperation among member states that include Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

  Low-Level Ties

Iran’s minister of industries, mines and trade, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, on Wednesday, lamented what he called “low level of industrial and commercial relations between D-8 members”, calling on member states to increase joint investment to boost trade among themselves.

 “The members should be able to identify each others’ capacities to increase the level of bilateral trade and industrial cooperation,” he said, addressing the 4th Industrial Ministerial Meeting of D-8 on Wednesday.

“Sustainable economic growth is a complex issue which cannot materialize only through increasing industrial production. International organizations, such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Non-Aligned Movement, play a significant role in this regard,” Nematzadeh said.

“Industrial development opens a gateway for private sector to more vigorously engage in the economy,” he said, noting that the D-8 members can make joint investment in auto production, generation of renewable energies, textile manufacture and development of nanotechnology.

Urging D-8 members to expand cooperation with other international bodies such as ECO, Nematzadeh said: “This will help D-8 members resolve some of the regional problems. It will also enable members to address their own challenges more effectively,” he said.

Nematzadeh stressed that D-8 members should pay more attention to promoting, what he called the “green economy”.

  $30b Annual Trade With Turkey

Meanwhile, in a meeting held on Thursday between Iran’s Minister of Communication and Information Technology Mahmoud Va’ezi, and his Turkish counterpart, Fikri Isik, in Tehran, both sides called for the expansion of bilateral trade.

“We are not satisfied with the current volume of trade between Tehran and Ankara, and attempts have to be made to increase the trade turnover to $30 billion per annum as agreed earlier by the two countries’ presidents,” Mahmoud Vaezi was quoted by IRNA as saying.

Calling for the promotion of banking exchange, Va’ezi said: “Fortunately, the governments of both countries have found a common language for cooperation.”

He said negotiations have been held on increasing gas exports to Turkey, noting that both countries are working to make use of their national currencies in their bilateral trade.

He urged both countries to promote scientific cooperation in ICT, space and satellite.

The Turkish official described both Turkey and Iran as key countries in the region, emphasizing on setting up two industrial zones along the joint borders.

“Commercial, political and cultural ties between the two countries are very important elements in maintaining peace in the region,” the Turkish minister of science, industry and technology said.

Financialtribune.com