Iran and Tajikistan traded 146,531 tons of goods worth $140.49 million during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Nov. 21), registering a 151% and 190% year-on-year rise in weight and value, respectively, according the spokesperson of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
Iran’s exports stood at 130,069 tons worth $93.1 million.
“Petrochemical products, glass wool, dried fruit, aquatic feed and different kinds of agricultural and horticultural products were the main products exported during the period,” Morteza Emadi was also quoted as saying by IRIB News.
Imports stood at 34,462 tons worth $53.39 million and mainly included cotton, silk cocoon and thread.
The two-day 15th meeting of the Tajikistan-Iran Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation concluded in Tehran on Dec. 6.
Co-chaired by Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma and Iranian Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian, the meeting was focused on cooperation between the two countries in sectors like trade, hydropower and culture, Asia Plus reported.
Mehrabian said Iran and Tajikistan have signed 25 cooperation documents in a joint economic commission over the past year.
He noted that at the commission meeting, the two countries reached agreements in various areas, including free trade zones, high education and cultural heritage, health, food, transportation, agriculture, communications and technology, oil and oil products, energy, water and environment.
The minister referred to Iran’s experience in constructing Sangtuda-2 hydropower plant in Tajikistan and said the power plant is now operating at full capacity, providing electricity to Tajikistan and other surrounding countries.
According to data from the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, two-way trade between Tajikistan and Iran in January-October was valued at $181.807 million (registering a 2.4-fold increase year-on-year). This included Tajikistan’s exports to Iran estimated at $86.813 million and Tajikistan’s imports from Iran worth $94.975 million.
The number of weekly flights between Iran and Tajikistan will increase from the current nine to 23, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding on air transport cooperation between the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran and the neighboring country, the news portal of Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development reported.
After a two-year break, Tajikistan resumed air traffic with Iran and India in April, an official source with the Civil Aviation Agency under the Government of Tajikistan told Asia-Plus in an interview.
“After a two-year break caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Tajikistan has resumed regular flights on the following air routes: Dushanbe-New Delhi-Dushanbe; Dushanbe-Nursultan-Dushanbe; and Dushanbe-Tehran-Dushanbe,” the source said.
Dushanbe-Tehran-Dushanbe flight is operated by Iranian flag carrier Iran Air.
“If possible, Somon Air will also operate flights on this air route,” the source added.
