Iran, Uzbekistan Increase Trade Up to 58 Percent

Addressing a meeting with Iranian businesspeople in Tashkent, Atabak said efforts by Iran’s embassy, the ministry, and related trade bodies have contributed to the sharp growth in bilateral trade.

He stressed Uzbekistan’s important position as the main gateway to Central Asia, noting that while recent efforts have boosted economic ties, more needs to be done to accelerate cooperation through resolving issues in rail and road transport, improving customs procedures, and signing a preferential trade agreement.

The minister was accompanied by senior Iranian officials, including members of parliament, the heads of the Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) and the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), as well as representatives of major industrial companies.

Discussions during the visit focus on expanding trade and customs cooperation and exploring opportunities in the mining and mineral industries, leveraging the capacities of both nations.

In a relevant development in October, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Iran Fariddin Nasriev met with Mohammad Ali Dehqan Dehnavi, head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) and deputy minister of industry, mining and trade, to discuss ways to expand bilateral economic relations and develop trade cooperation between the two countries.

According to the TPO, both sides reviewed existing trade capacities and explored mechanisms to facilitate commercial exchanges.

Dehqan Dehnavi stressed the importance of expanding the list of goods under the preferential trade agreement between Iran and Uzbekistan, noting that the two sides have so far agreed on 20 data-x-items and are working to include more to boost mutual trade.

He also highlighted the use of barter arrangements as a practical tool to increase trade volume and overcome financial and banking limitations.

Dehqan Dehnavi pointed to the operation of Uzbekistan’s Trade House in Iran and suggested establishing an Iranian Trade House in Tashkent to help connect private sector players and identify reliable business partners.

The TPO head underlined that expanding tourism cooperation would further deepen economic and cultural relations between the two countries.

Both officials also discussed the importance of fostering provincial-level cooperation, improving logistics and cargo transport, and simplifying visa procedures for businesspeople to facilitate trade exchanges.

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