Turkey eyes border upgrades to expedite post-war trade with Iran
Turkey will upgrade its border infrastructure to accelerate trade with Iran, Economy Minister Omer Bolat said, adding that Ankara expects to rapidly expand commerce with the Islamic Republic in the post-war period.
“We will upgrade Turkey’s border infrastructure to speed up trade with the Islamic Republic of Iran, as we believe we will significantly expand trade with Iran after the war,” Bolat said at the opening ceremony of the Gurbulak customs gate in Turkey, according to ILNA, citing the Maku Free Zone news outlet.
Iran remains in wartime conditions. Tehran and Washington agreed to a temporary ceasefire on April 8 with Pakistan's mediation after a 40-day war, launched by the US and Israel on February 028.
Bolat said Turkey would not limit its connectivity with Iran to road crossings and would also strengthen rail links and air traffic.
He described the Gurbulak crossing as the most important gateway between the two countries, adding that Agri Province and the crossing serve as “Europe’s gateway to Asia,” and that Turkey would not overlook this capacity.
Referring to efforts launched in 2003 to revive land border crossings, Bolat said Gurbulak is the 19th crossing restored over that period to enhance economic capacity with neighboring countries.
Turkey’s foreign trade has reached $800 billion, accounting for nearly 50% of the country’s economy, highlighting the sector’s importance, he said, adding Ankara aims to raise that figure to $1 trillion by 2030.
Bolat also thanked Iranian officials for their cooperation in developing trade, praising efforts by West Azerbaijan Governor Reza Rahmani to expand commercial exchanges and strengthen constructive ties between the two countries.
According to the report, Rahmani on Friday attended the opening ceremony of the Gurbulak border crossing in Turkey with an accompanying delegation and held multiple meetings with Turkish counterparts.