Minister: Tajikistan Tries to Increase Economic Convergence with Iran

Tajikistan's Minister of Economy and Trade Nematollah Hekmatzadeh underlined age-old and friendly ties between Tehran and Dushanbe, saying that his country endeavors to boost economic convergence with Iran.

"We try to develop economic convergence with foreign states, including the Islamic Republic of Iran," Hekmatzadeh said, addressing the inauguration ceremony of an exhibition of Iranian goods in Dushanbe on Sunday.

He added that Iran and Tajikistan are considered as trustworthy partners in areas of economic, energy and communications cooperation.

"The successes that the friendly and brotherly country of Iran has gained in the past few years is a clear instance of economic growth and enhancement of the social level of the Iranian people," Hekmatzadeh said, emphasizing Iran's astonishing progress in the field of information technology.

In relevant remarks earlier this month, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, in a meeting with his Tajik counterpart Usmonali Usmonzoda, called upon Dushanbe to undertake practical measures to promote and develop economic ties with Tehran.

“Tajikistan should take more practical steps for boosting economic ties with Iran,” Ardakanian, as the co-chairman of Iran-Tajikistan Joint Economic Commission, said during the 13th meeting of the Iran-Tajikistan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission in Tehran with Usmonzoda present as the co-chairman of the commission.

The Iranian energy minister emphasized the need for the promotion of economic ties between Islamic Republic of Iran and Tajikistan and added, “Today, relations between Iran and Tajikistan have been improved as compared to the past.”

Ardakanian said that the Tajik minister will also attend the meeting of Board of Directors of water reservoir which is supposed to be held on December 5.

The expert panels are expected to address the issues arising from the process of implementation of the projects already signed by the two countries, Ardakanian noted.

In March, Tajikistan's Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda, in a meeting with Iran's outgoing Ambassador Hojatullah Faqani, said that Dushanbe is determined to increase economic and commercial relations with Tehran, calling for increase in volume of trade between the two countries.

Earlier in mid-February, former Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that Tehran is eager to further expand ties with Dushanbe.