TEHRAN - The 15th Iran-Tajikistan Joint Economic Committee meeting kicked off in Tehran on Monday, IRNA reported.

Co-chaired by Iranian Energy Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian, and Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma, the two-day event is aimed at strengthening economic relations between the two countries especially through promoting cooperation between the private sectors of the two sides.

On the first day of the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to expand economic, commercial, technical, scientific, and cultural cooperation and followed up on the agreements previously reached between Iran and Tajikistan.

Iran-Tajikistan trade rises 300% in 2022

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Mehrabian underlined the significant improvement in the economic relations between Iran and Tajikistan, saying that the value of trade between the two countries has increased by 300 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year.

Mehrabian expressed hope that the upward trend of mutual trade between the two sides will continue in the coming months and years.

“To continue this growth, the economic delegations between the two countries should become more active,” he stressed.

The official emphasized the significant role of the private sectors of the two countries in boosting economic exchanges and said: “The private sectors of the two countries can help develop [economic] relations.”

He noted that the documents and agreements that are going to be signed in this meeting should provide a roadmap for the development of future cooperation.

Elsewhere in the ceremony, Juma, for his part, pointed out that constructive cooperation between the two countries is already underway, saying: “This cooperation has been implemented in the form of holding exhibitions and investment in various industrial sectors, etc.”

Iranian companies to take part in Tajikistan development projects

On the sidelines of the meeting, Mehrabian told IRNA that Tajikistan has numerous development projects underway, in which Iranian companies and contractors can take part.

“Tajikistan has important projects in the field of hydropower plants, and we are trying to pave the way for using the expertise of Iranian companies in these projects,” he said.

According to Mehrabian, Tajikistan currently has about 6,500 megawatts of hydroelectric power plant capacity, and the country plans to increase this capacity to 10,000 megawatts.

Cooperation in exporting electricity to Central Asia

Elsewhere in the meeting, Juma mentioned Tajikistan’s great potential for electricity generation, saying that Iran and Tajikistan can collaborate on energy projects in order to supply electricity to central and south Asia.

“Tajikistan is ranked 6th in the world in terms of water energy resources, and according to the emphasis of Iran's energy minister on Iran's technical and engineering capabilities, it is necessary to use this capacity to create hydroelectric power plants,” the Tajik minister said.

Stating that Tajikistan has a good experience with Iranian investment in its development projects, he said: “Sangtuda hydropower plant was built and launched in collaboration with Iran.”

“It is hoped that the volume of economic and commercial exchanges between Iran and Tajikistan will be increased by providing the necessary grounds and infrastructure; Of course, we will also cooperate in other fields including cultural, political, and, tourism,” Juma noted.

EF/MA

Photo: Iranian Energy Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian (L) and Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma co-chair 15th Iran-Tajikistan Joint Economic Committee meeting in Tehran on Monday.