TEHRAN - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen and Iranian Minister of Roads and Transport Ahmad Khoram opened on Tuesday Turkish-Iranian 18th Term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting in Iranian capital of Tehran.
Making a keynote speech at the meeting, Tuzmen said that closer trade and economic relations among regional countries would contribute to rapid solution of political problems, and peace, stability and development of regional countries.
Tuzmen said that trade volume between Turkey and Iran rose by 91 percent in 2003, and forecast that the trade volume would reach 3 billion U.s. dollars this year.
Turkey had launched initiatives regarding border trade centers, and started trade in Sarisu, Kapikoy, Razi and Esendere despite some problems, Tuzmen noted.
Tuzmen stated that Turkey expected Iran to immediately approve the list of products subject to preferential trade.
250 Turkish companies would join this year's International Tehran Industrial Products Fair, Tuzmen said.
Tuzmen pointed out that economic relations would be speeded up if the agreement on prevention of double taxation was put into practice, and noted that Turkey was ready to cooperate with Iran in areas like telecommunication, environment, health and agricultural technologies.
There were not any remaining highway problems between two countries, Tuzmen said.
Tuzmen noted that if Iran had fulfilled its duties, Kapikoy-Razi border pass would be opened to international traffic next June.
Sarisu Border Trade Center would be rehabilitated till the end of this year, Tuzmen said.
Tuzmen pointed out that Iran could benefit Turkish ports, including northeastern Trabzon port, the tariffs of which had been reduced.
Turkey supported the idea to form a joint working group comprised of Turkish and Iranian experts in order to improve sea transportation, Tuzmen said.
Tuzmen said that Istanbul-Tehran railway transportation launched two years ago decreased costs of transportation.
''We are planning to rehabilitate Van-Kapikoy rail line. And, ferries in (eastern province of) Van are being renovated. We also support the project to build a railway in the north of Van Lake,'' Tuzmen said.
Tuzmen noted, ''we should also increase scheduled flights between Tehran and Ankara and Tehran and Istanbul. And, we should offer flights to new destinations and make necessary facilitation in charter flights.''
Turkish State Minister Tuzmen called on Iranian companies to invest in Turkey, reminding privatization projects of Tekel, Petkim, Turk Telekom and Turkish Airlines.
Tuzmen said that two countries should also make joint investments in other countries.
On the other hand, Khoram said that natural gas projects between two countries, and Turkish Tepe-Akfen consortium's fulfilling the Imam Khomeini Airport project would speed up bilateral relations.
(BRC-AÖ) 27.07.2004