Iran, Turkmenistan agreements for transport, trade, and energy cooperation

Rialnews : Iran, Turkmenistan Joint Economic Commission concluded yesterday on November 18 and the two sides reached agreements as per the negotiations in six different committees.

At the end of the 17th Iran, Turkmenistan Joint Economic Commission, Iran and Turkmenistan signed the MoU of the 17th Joint Economic Commission and two other documents for road construction and export of electric power equipment.
Tehran, November 19 (MRUD NEWS)—The 17th Iran, Turkmenistan Joint Economic Commission concluded yesterday on November 18 and the two sides reached agreements as per the negotiations in six different committees.
The final agreements include the following:

In the electric power cooperation, the agreement for construction of electric power transmission by Iran was reached through bartering gas with a value of $200 million. Also, the initial agreement for the export of $140 million electric power equipment to Turkmenistan was reached, and the contract was signed between Tavanir and the Turkmen side.

In transport sector, it was agreed that the number of transit wagons from Sarakhs Border would be increased to 600 wagons per day and from Inchebron to 100 wagons, and also the officials should pay visit to the border to solve the existing problem.

Regarding the transit tariff, Bazarpash said that the reduction and unification of the tariff between the two countries have been reached and it was agreed that this should be done for other transit freights from other countries to the destination of Iran.

In air transport, the Minister of Roads and Urban Development announced the agreement to launch flights from Mashhad to Ashgabat or through other countries to Mashhad and then to Ashgabat which its schedule for the passenger and cargo will be decided in the next two months.

In port agreements, the document of sister ports was signed for Amirabad Port and Turkmenbashi Port. It is hoped that it increases the traffic of ships and investments in the hinterlands.

For completion of international corridors, the two sides decided to hold a multilateral meeting between Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Oman within the next two months with the aim of reducing transit tariffs and freight transit between the countries along the International North-South and East-West transport corridor.

In the road construction, a memorandum of cooperation for construction of a 242 km road in Turkmenistan by Iranian company with the value of $500 million was signed and its implementation contract will be signed in the near future.

As per the activation of border markets between Iran and Turkmenistan, currently Bajgiran market border is active and a joint committee will be held within 2 months for activation of Incheh Borun market Border. Moreover, Iran proposed to launch three more border markets in Golestan and North Khorasan Provinces.

Considering the strategic importance of Sarakhs, the launch of the Chabahar-Zahedan-Birjand-Mashhad-Sarakhs Railway as a main route for freight transit to the south was highlighted for strengthening regional connectivity.

Regarding the export of construction materials to Turkmenistan, the head of Iran, Turkmenistan Joint Economic Commission stated that there is market for Iran’s industrial and mineral goods and construction materials in Turkmenistan, so Iran needs to do marketing for these products.

Additionally, Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Mehrdad Bazrpash, informed of the agreement to hold cultural and sports events focusing on the prominent figures of the two countries.

In the end, the two sides signed the MoU of the 17th Joint Economic Commission and two other documents including a memorandum of cooperation for road construction and a contract for electric power equipment.