First Session of Iran-Turkey Joint Council of Traders Opens
The council was established in Ankara in 2001 with participation of the two countries' tradesmen on the basis of a letter of understanding signed between the two sides chambers of commerce, industries and mines.
During the first session of the council, which started this morning and will continue till this afternoon, the two sides are reviewing avenues to bolster Tehran-Ankara economic and trade cooperation.
Addressing the meeting, head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines and the Iranian co-chairman of the council, Ali-Naqi Khamoushi said expansion of Iran-Turkey bilateral trade cooperation is in line with establishment of peace and tranquility in the region.
He called on the two countries' relevant officials to remove the existing non-tariff obstacles in the way of bilateral exchanges.
He expressed hope that the second phase of Iran's gas exports to Europe via Turkey will become operational soon so that trade will be balanced between the two countries.
Underlining the need for promotion of bilateral cooperation, Khamoushi voiced readiness of Iranian investors to carry out joint venture projects with their Turkish counterparts.
Meanwhile, Turkish head of the two countries joint tradesmen council said that objective of the council is to recognize and remove the existing obstacles to the expansion of Tehran-Ankara economic cooperation.
Iran-Turkey trade exchanges stood at $1.2 billion in 2001, he said announcing his country's readiness to boost economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
He also announced the readiness of Turkish companies for making investments in the fields of steel, copper, machine building, packing, processing industries and leather industry in Iran.
The Turkish official further welcomed a proposal suggested by Khamoushi on bilateral cooperation between the Iranian and Turkish companies in reconstruction of the war-torn Afghanistan.