Kazakhstan plans joint terminal with Iran at Shahid Rajaei Port
Kazakhstan plans to establish a joint terminal with Iran at Shahid Rajaei Port in the southern province of Hormozgan, with agreements already signed to advance the project, Duisebay Dauirbek, head of Kazakhstan’s consulate in Bandar Abbas, said on Wednesday.
Dauirbek said Kazakhstan attaches particular importance to Hormozgan’s ports and that the country’s private sector is ready to participate in port investment projects and expand maritime cooperation with Iran, IRNA reported.
Speaking at a news conference marking Kazakhstan’s Independence Day (December 16), Dauirbek said a delegation from Kazakhstan’s Trade Development Fund, accompanied by businesspeople and investors, had recently visited Shahid Rajaei Port to assess its capacities, facilities and infrastructure.
Agreements have been signed to establish the joint terminal, which is intended to facilitate port operations and provide a platform for traders and investors from both countries, he said.
Kazakhstan signed a $25 million agreement in June to develop a logistics hub at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei Port. Iranian officials have said the facility will support the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
Dauirbek said visits by high-level Kazakh economic delegations to Shahid Rajaei Port reflected the two countries’ determination to expand trade, increase investment and make greater use of the transit route’s potential. He said Iran and Kazakhstan were seeking to raise their annual bilateral trade to $3 billion. Dauirbek also pointed to investment opportunities in Kazakhstan, saying about 500 Iranian companies were currently operating in the country. He said cooperation could be expanded in industry, mining, agriculture, energy and infrastructure. Iranian companies could also participate in construction and engineering projects in Kazakhstan, supply building materials and establish manufacturing facilities there, he said.
Kazakhstan’s efforts to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment were creating new opportunities for Iranian businesses, Dauirbek said. Participation in investment projects could also help Iranian companies gain access to markets in Central Asia and the Eurasian Economic Union. He also highlighted opportunities to expand agricultural trade between the two countries. Kazakhstan exports wheat, barley and other agricultural products to Iran, while Iranian exports of dates, citrus fruits, rice and other agricultural goods to Kazakhstan could be increased, he said. Other potential areas of cooperation include establishing farms for growing Iranian rice in Kazakhstan, developing industrial greenhouses and expanding fish farming, Dauirbek added.
The consul also called for closer academic and educational ties between the two countries. He said the consulate was pursuing cooperation between a university in Aktau and the University of Hormozgan. A draft memorandum of understanding is being prepared, and a joint committee has been established with the participation of the Iranian university, he said.
On tourism, Dauirbek said a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation between Kazakhstan and Hormozgan Province had been prepared and was expected to be signed during a planned visit to Kazakhstan by a political and economic delegation from the province. The agreement also includes a proposal for Bandar Abbas and Aktau to become sister cities, he said.
Dauirbek also welcomed joint ventures with Iranian companies in energy, petrochemicals, mining, processing industries, digital technologies, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment manufacturing.
He said the opportunities offered by Kazakhstan extended beyond exports, allowing Iranian companies to undertake manufacturing projects and establish long-term investment partnerships, while gaining access to Central Asian markets and the Eurasian Economic Union, which has a population of about 186 million.