TEHRAN – The head of Kazakhstan’s Association of Free Economic Zones has proposed creating a joint commodity exchange linking Tehran, Almaty and China’s Khorgos Free Economic Zone (FEZ), during a meeting with a Tehran Chamber of Commerce delegation led by its president, Mahmoud Najafi Arab.

The plan envisions the three sides offering goods and sourcing supplies through a common market, he told Iranian delegates on their first day of meetings in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s commercial capital.

Najafi Arab said Tehran Chamber, which represents about 47,000 members accounting for nearly 45 percent of Iran’s GDP, was ready to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan’s private sector through trade missions, specialized webinars, and joint participation in business events.

He said Iran’s private sector could invest in industrial zones and free trade areas around Almaty despite challenges posed by sanctions.

Yerbol Bukharbayev, who also heads the regional office of the World Free Zones Organization in Central Asia, called for strengthening trilateral ties with Iran, Kazakhstan and China. He said Kazakhstan plans to hold an exhibition on its free and special economic zones in Tehran in 2026 and invited Iranian firms to participate.

Iranian business representatives also sought partnerships in grain production. Mohammad Ali Rezaei, head of Iran’s Medicinal Plants, Food Products and Saffron Union, noted Tehran’s heavy reliance on grain imports and proposed joint cultivation projects in Kazakhstan.

He added that much of Iran’s saffron exports reach China via third countries, with only 30 tons out of 120 tons annually shipped directly. A Tehran-Almaty-Khorgos trade hub, he said, could help re-channel such exports and benefit from zero-tariff arrangements between Iran, Kazakhstan and China.

Ali Akbar Shamani, deputy head of Iran’s Customs Administration, suggested a “green corridor” customs mechanism with Kazakhstan, modeled on Iran’s existing agreement with Russia, to facilitate trade.

Najafi Arab said Tehran Chamber would establish a special task force to study cross-border farming and commodity exchanges with Kazakhstan, and encouraged a future mission of Iranian start-ups to Almaty.

The meeting was also attended by Tehran Chamber Secretary-General Fereydoun Verdinejad, Iran’s consul general in Almaty, Sona Ahmadi, and senior customs officials.

EF/MA