Iran to enhance transport cooperation with UAE, Qatar
Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash met with senior officials of the Persian Gulf countries during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), discussing closer ties and cooperation in the fields of transport and transit.
The minister also voiced the country’s readiness for cooperating with shipping, logistics, and forwarding companies in the United Arab Emirates, according to Tasnim news agency.
Bazrpash, who also chairs the Iran-UAE Joint Chamber of Commerce, made the comment in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
He traveled to the United Arab Emirates to take part in the 17th International Middle East Rail Summit at the official invitation of the UAE’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei.
The Islamic Republic of Iran enjoys high technical know-how and experiences in designing and constructing rail and transportation projects, he said, highlighting the country’s export of technical and engineering services and participation of Iranian companies in constructing rail projects in regional countries.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he pointed to the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia and stated that the thaw in relations between the two countries can help develop bilateral trade in the future.
Bazrpash stated that years ago, Iran established constructive relations with UAE in the field of maritime transportation, noting that the country enjoys high potentials for cooperation in the field of hybrid transportation, especially for transporting goods from Dubai to Bandar Abbas, and then to Russia and Central Asian countries.
Referring to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the minister stated that the INSTC can account for a large share of international transportation between Russia and the Commonwealth Independent States (CIA), India, the Persian Gulf littoral states, and Europe.
UAE officials discussed transport
Officials from Iran and the United Arab Emirates stressed the need to expand and broaden their cooperation in the fields of transportation and transit.
On the sidelines of the summit, Bazrpash met and held talks with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is simultaneously the deputy prime minister, the minister of the presidential court, and the vice president of the UAE.
During the meeting, the two sides emphasized the development of relations in different transportation sectors.
Bazrpash pointed out that Iran is seeking to expand its ties with the UAE and welcomes investments in different transportation projects.
He further suggested the resumption of the Iran-UAE Joint Economic Commission after a long hiatus.
The UAE official, for his part, pointed to the strategic location of Iran, particularly along the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Increasing transportation ties, particularly in ports and maritime, were also discussed by two ministers.
This visit marks a new beginning for commercial transactions between Iran and the UAE, following the resumption of political relations between Iran and the Persian Gulf states.
Qatar calls for more
cooperation
The Iranian minister of roads and urban development also held talks with Qatar’s Minister of Transportation Jassim bin Saif bin Ahmed Al Sulaiti in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on Monday.
During the meeting, officials from Iran and Qatar emphasized the need for broadening and promoting mutual cooperation in the field of transportation.
The two sides stressed the need to implement the memoranda of understanding (MoUs) inked previously between the two countries, with the aim of removing barriers on the path of bilateral trade.
They emphasized the need for enhancing relations in the field of transportation, especially in the maritime sector.
The Qatari transport minister expressed his satisfaction with the meeting and called for the continuation of negotiations in the coming months.