TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) – Iran has focused its foreign policy on developing trade ties with other countries especially Turkey, Iran’s Minister of Commerce said Monday in the Seminar on Development of Iran-Turkey Economic and Trade Ties.

The two countries should look ahead of the current bilateral relations since they are both members of ECO, IOC, and D8 Group, added Mohammad Shariatmadari.

Iran and Turkey exchanged goods and services valued at $1,300 billion last year, he said adding that there is a mutual interest to raise the number up to $2 billion.

The Iranian minister stressed that a joint customs union should be established to reach for tariff reduction as well as trade liberalization.

“Iran has made efforts to develop commercial rapports with Turkey including tax reduction and customs facilitation,” he added.

In addition, Shariatmadari said that Iran’s non-oil export was on a 25.8 percent increase compared to last year’s figure. There has been further growth in the country’s industry due to a 53-percent rise in imports, he stated. “Some $4 billion was taken from the Forex Fund to support the private sector, which could be considered as another stimulus for industrial improvement.”

He also said that upgrading the efficiency of the government, advancing private sector, and creating jobs are among the main policies of the Iranian government.