TEHRAN – Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash traveled to Armenia on Monday to meet the country’s senior officials and discuss ways of expanding trade and transit ties between the two countries, IRNA reported.

Speaking to the press prior to the visit, Bazrpash emphasized Iran's readiness to export technical-engineering services to Armenia, announcing the plan of the two countries to strengthen the level of trade and transit, and remove cumbersome regulations in the way of trade development.

Regarding the objectives of his trip to Armenia, the official pointed out that the two countries have common borders with each other, which is an advantage for both, saying: “During this trip to Armenia, we have based negotiations with political and economic authorities on two axes.”

“The main focus of the negotiations with the Armenian authorities is the development of economic relations and the removal of redundant regulations that hinder the two countries' trade development. Also, the development of transit is another goal we are pursuing in this trip, because the development of transit is one of the main foundations of the development of economic relations,” he added.

Cooperation between the two countries regarding the issuance of licenses for Iranian airlines, the removal of road tolls, the promotion of cooperation in the framework of the International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC) and the Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor, expanding rail transportation and using Iran's logistics and port capacities were also among the subjects for negotiations during Bazrpash’s visit to the neighboring country.

Armenia welcomes Iranian companies’ presence in construction, transport projects

In a meeting Between Bazrpash and Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan, the two sides negotiated and agreed on the presence of Iranian companies in the construction and transport projects, the construction of the second bridge at Nordouz terminal, and the holding of a trilateral transit meeting with Georgia.

The Iranian minister emphasized the presence of Iranian companies in the construction and transportation industries, and proposed the elimination of entry and exit tariffs between the two countries to facilitate traffic.

He also proposed the holding of a trilateral meeting between Iran, Georgia, and Armenia to facilitate traffic in the North-South corridor and welcomed the proposal for the construction of a second bridge on the Aras River at the Nordouz border to increase traffic between Iran and Armenia.

The Armenian minister, for his part, said, “We will use the capacity of Iranian companies to build and complete the North-South corridor, and a contract for the construction of a section of the route is ready to be signed with Iranian companies in the field of road construction.”

He welcomed the tripartite transit meeting with Georgia and said, “I will meet with the Georgian minister in the next three days and discuss the issue.”

The official considered the Armenia-Iran-India transit axis important.

MA

Photo: Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash (2nd L) and Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan (2nd R)