ANKARA - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Friday that a new period began in foreign trade with Iran.
Tuzmen completed his visit to Iran, where he attended Joint Trade Committee Second Term Meeting and inauguration of Third International Tehran Industrial Products Fair.
Releasing a statement, Tuzmen said that new contracts worth of 200 million U.S. dollars were signed during his visit to Iran.
Tuzmen noted that Turkey and Iran decided to sign preferential trade agreement in order to improve trade in a balanced way.
Iran committed to reduce all customs duties and similar taxes imposed on Turkish products to 4 percent within five years, starting from 2004, Tuzmen stated.
Tuzmen said, ''as a result of this, trade between Turkey and Iran will gain momentum in following term. Reduction of customs duties and other taxes by Iran will make our companies more advantageous in Iranian market.''
Pointing out that contacts between private sectors of two countries were fruitful, Tuzmen said that they decided that a Turkish company would undertake the modernization project of international airport in Tehran by build-operate-transfer model.
Tuzmen noted that Iranian government officials committed that the agreement on the project worth of 200 million U.s. dollars would be singed within 15 days.
Progress was recorded in undertaking of car and locomotive sale to Iran and Tehran-Qom-Esfahan and Qazvin-Bandar-e Anzali railway projects by Turkish companies, Tuzmen pointed out.
Tuzmen said that another important issue on which two countries reached agreement was border trade centers.
They decided to open three new border trade centers in Turkey-Iran border till the end of October, Tuzmen stressed.
Tuzmen noted that they aimed to reach a trade volume of 100 million U.S. dollars in those trade centers as a beginning.
Opening new trade centers in borders would contribute to economic development of that region, Tuzmen stated.
Tuzmen said that concrete cooperation possibilities were taken up in his contacts in Iran.
The atmosphere of those meetings and the interests in Turkish delegation once more proved common will to improve existing bilateral relations, Tuzmen emphasized.
Expressing belief that lasting peace and stability in the Middle East could only be ensured by increasing development and prosperity of the region, Tuzmen added that their visit would help positive results.
(BRC-AÖ) 03.10.2003