Tehran, Islamabad eye joint research, trade boost in agriculture sector
Iran’s Minister of Agriculture Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh announced the expansion of cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in agriculture, research, and food security, saying that joint scientific and technological studies to provide practical and innovative solutions in the fields of production and food resource management are among the key capacities for collaboration between the two countries.
Nouri Ghezeljeh, in a meeting with Rana Tanveer Hussain, Pakistan’s minister for national food security and research, said that joint scientific and technological studies to provide practical and innovative solutions in production and food resource management are among the important areas of cooperation between the two countries, IRNA reported.
The minister described the presence of his Pakistani counterpart in Tehran as paving the way for the expansion of cooperation, particularly in food security and agricultural trade, adding that strengthening relations with Pakistan is one of Iran’s government priorities.
He emphasized the implementation of joint research projects, the export of agricultural and livestock products, and the development of border logistics infrastructure to expand economic cooperation and food security.
The minister also proposed the establishment of a joint Iran-Pakistan committee to be held at least every six months in order to accelerate cooperation in agriculture, strengthen food security, and address challenges arising from climate change.
Nouri Ghezeljeh, pointing to the priority of importing meat and rice from Pakistan, noted that Iran is ready to import live livestock and corn, provided that the Pakistani side cooperates and sanitary and quarantine barriers are resolved.
For his part, Tanveer Hussain underlined his country’s determination to expand cooperation in all areas, stating that agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and that 67 percent of the country’s population depends on it.
He proposed that cooperation begin with a focus on the production of climate-resilient seeds and the development of joint research projects with Iran.
Tanveer Hussain stressed the importance of setting both immediate and long-term plans to operationalize cooperation, adding that strengthening the export of agricultural products from Pakistan to Iran — including rice, meat, mangoes, corn, bananas, and other fruits — as well as the export of pesticides, would be priorities.
He also pointed to the need to resolve complex issues such as health certificates, barter trade, infrastructure limitations, and customs clearance procedures, saying that these matters should be concluded through coordination and the review of reports by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).