Tehran, Dushanbe sign 13 MoUs to further cement ties
In a meeting of Iranian and Tajik economic actors held in Dushanbe, attended by Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Reza Salehi Amiri and Tajik officials, 13 bilateral cooperation memorandums were signed.
According to IRNA, Samad Hassanzadeh, head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA), expressed gratitude for the hospitality and attention of Tajik officials and its people during a joint meeting with Sultan Rahimzade, head of Tajikistan’s State Investment Committee, on Wednesday in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
Hassanzadeh emphasized that strengthening ties between Iranian and Tajik trade delegations and economic actors could significantly impact bilateral relations and the development of cultural and tourism activities.
Hassanzadeh noted that expanding economic relations between the two countries requires addressing certain ambiguities and shortcomings to enable investors to operate with greater confidence and ease.
He highlighted Tajikistan’s five free trade zones as advantageous for Iranian businesses and called for preferential tariffs in specific industrial sectors, such as cotton and clothing, to enhance trade.
He also pointed to Iran’s leading position in handmade carpet production, stating that Iranian investors could help develop Tajikistan’s handicraft market.
Hassanzadeh assured that Iranian products in food industries, copper, petrochemicals, and construction materials meet the highest international standards, ensuring Tajik consumers can trust their quality.
The head of the ICCIMA stressed the need to develop banking relations between Tajikistan and Iran to facilitate trade. He also called for improved transportation infrastructure, including customs and logistics, to streamline cross-border movement.
Hassanzadeh highlighted the capabilities of Iranian engineering and technical service companies, which are equipped with advanced global engineering standards, to excel in road construction, bridge and tunnel projects, and other large-scale ventures.
He emphasized the importance of transparent investment laws, noting that Iran provides guarantees for foreign investors to protect their capital.
The ICCIMA head also mentioned that while investors from various countries are interested in Iran’s energy and petrochemical megaprojects, the Islamic Republic prioritizes partnerships with neighboring countries, especially those with cultural commonalities.
Hassanzadeh invited Tajik economic actors to participate in Iran’s international exhibitions and recommended that both countries dispatch trade and tourism delegations.
He highlighted opportunities in food industries, construction materials, steel, glass, tiles, ceramics, and other sectors, offering Tajik businesses six-month credit facilities with bank guarantees for exports.
Sultan Jafarzade, acknowledged Iran’s capabilities and expressed optimism about the growth of businesses in Tajikistan, particularly in construction materials, handicrafts, and textiles.
He emphasized the potential in transportation and called for organizing the Iran Chamber of Commerce to encourage Iranian companies to enter the Tajik market.
Jafarzade noted that the signing of 13 MoUs during the Iranian trade delegation’s visit to Dushanbe would inject new energy into bilateral relations and boost economic, cultural, and political exchanges between the two countries.
Facilitating Tajik rail freight through Iran
During the visit, Iranian economic actors met with Tajikistan’s Director General of International Transport to discuss the facilitation of Tajik rail wagons for transporting Iranian cargo to Tajikistan.
The meeting, chaired by Rozi Nurullah, Tajikistan’s director general of international transport, and attended by Hamed Asgari, deputy international director of the ICCIMA, highlighted Iran’s economic capabilities and called for enabling Tajik wagons to transport export goods to Tajikistan, given the challenges of Iranian wagons operating in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.
‘Iran should become Tajikistan’s top trade partner’
In a meeting with Zavqi-Amin Zavqizoda, Tajikistan’s minister of economic development and trade, the Tajik official emphasized the importance of strengthening economic ties, citing the deep cultural connections between the two countries.
He noted that numerous agreements had been signed between Tajikistan and Iran during the administration of Iran’s late president Ebrahim Raeisi.
Zavqizoda stressed the need to implement these agreements, revealing that trade between Iran and Tajikistan reached $387 million in 2024, a sixfold increase but still below potential.
He called for a long-term action plan to enhance bilateral relations, noting that joint investments totaled $500,000 last year, which does not align with existing capacities.
The minister announced plans to send a trade delegation to Iran to sign joint agreements and explore investment opportunities.
He highlighted Iran’s capabilities in producing pharmaceuticals, decorative stones, and rebar, expressing Tajikistan’s interest in diversifying imports and engaging in joint ventures.
Zavqizoda expressed hope that Iran would rise from its current position as Tajikistan’s seventh-largest trade partner to the top spot, a goal he believes can be achieved through ongoing talks and agreements, including those involving Iran’s president.
Hassanzadeh, in turn, emphasized mutual needs, cooperation, and joint cultural and social activities between Iran and Tajikistan, calling for increased collaboration in exports, imports, and investments.
He noted the presence of numerous economic actors from across Iran in the delegation and highlighted Iran’s technological advancements in pharmaceuticals, engineering services, and tourism, as well as its capacity to modernize Tajikistan’s elevator industry.
Hassanzadeh also discussed the importance of facilitating currency transfers, improving transportation, and providing investment insurance, reaffirming the Iran Chamber’s readiness to cooperate with Tajik businesses and investors.