PM Smailov in Tehran: Iran, Kazakhstan Sign Cooperation Documents
TEHRAN -- Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov arrived here Wednesday for an official visit and was received by First Vice-President of Iran Muhammad Mokhber to discuss the current issues of cooperation between the countries.
Mokhber later said economic relations between Iran and Kazakhstan are not on par with the level of bilateral political ties,
and stressed that the two countries aim to raise their trade volume to $3 billion.
“Even though economic relations between Iran and Kazakhstan have climbed by about 20% to $500 million, it is not proportional to the level of political relations and communications between the two countries,” he said at a joint press conference with Smailov.
“During Prime Minister Smailov’s visit to Iran, it was agreed to increase this number to $3 billion,” he added.
It was also decided to “quickly develop a temporary roadmap between Iran and Kazakhstan” to improve economic relations.
Detailed discussions were held to expand cooperation in the fields of oil industry, drilling, mining, electricity, auto industry, agricultural machinery, aviation and shipping, he said.
The two sides inked five MoUs in the fields of sports, customs, free zones, youth, and tourism and a cooperation agreement to develop and strengthen bilateral relations.
Smailov was to meet Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi as well.
The Kazakh prime minister is visiting Iran amid the ongoing 3rd Trade and Economic Mission of Kazakhstan in Iran, which brought together 20 domestic producers of food, chemical, construction, light industry, and metallurgy products.