TEHRAN - Iranian Oil Minister Javad Oji and Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held talks to discuss ways to promote cooperation in the oil and gas fields in Ashgabat on Thursday.

Oji who arrived in Turkmenistan on Wednesday for a two-day visit, met with top Turkmen officials and exchanged views on various issues including gas trade, exports of oil products and technical-engineering services, and equipment, Shana reported.

The Head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Majid Chegeni, Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs and Trade Ahmad Asadzadeh, the Adviser to the Minister and the Head of the Ministerial Office Payam Kehtari also accompanied Oji during his visit.

Carrying a message from Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi to his Turkmen counterpart Berdimuhamedov, Oji also talked to Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Deputy Prime Minister for Oil and Gas Batyr Amanov.

On December 19, 2023, Raisi, in his phone talks with Berdimuhamedov, expressed his satisfaction with the considerable growth of bilateral relations, particularly the increase in the two nations’ trade volume, in recent years.

The Iranian president also stressed the need to speed up the implementation of the energy, transport, and transit agreements reached between the two countries during the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission meeting.

Berdimuhamedov, for his part, expressed his gratitude to Iran for its active participation in the joint commission and side exhibitions, saying Turkmenistan is ready to broaden cooperation with Iran and put bilateral energy, transport, transit, and cultural agreements into action.

Iran and Turkmenistan have called for developing mutual customs ties during a meeting between the customs officials of the two countries in last March.

During the meeting, Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Mohammad Rezvani-Far, and the head of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan Maksat Hudaykulyev stressed the need for launching a joint custom gate.

The officials discussed major issues in two rounds of meetings. The first round was held at Khorasan Razavi Customs, and the second round was held at Hudan Customs of Turkmenistan.

Boosting cooperation and trade in four customs borders, establishing joint border customs, signing a memorandum on training, holding regular joint meetings between the two sides, enhancing border markets, and removal of restrictions were among the topics discussed during these meetings.

Pointing out that the 13th government pays special attention to the development of economic and border interactions with neighboring countries, Rezvani-Far said that the development of economic interactions, especially with neighboring countries, is a top priority for the incumbent government in Iran.

Calling for strengthening economic ties with Turkmenistan, he highlighted that the two states' economic cooperation would multiply the volume of trade between the two countries.

Also in last February, senior officials from Iran and Turkmenistan’s oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors have held talks on the sidelines of the Islamic Republic’s 14th special exhibition in Ashgabat, to explore avenues of mutual cooperation.

Headed by Deputy Oil Minister for Engineering, Research, and Technology Vahid-Reza Zeidifard, the Iranian delegation met and discussed cooperation in various areas with the representatives of Turkmenistan’s national oil, gas and petrochemical companies in separate meetings.

Speaking in the meeting with the deputy head of Turkmenistan’s national gas company Türkmengaz, Zeidifard introduced the capabilities of Iranian companies active in the oil industry and emphasized the development and cooperation between the two countries.

Pointing to the fact that over 70 percent of the equipment and items used in the Iranian oil industry are manufactured by domestic producers, the official proposed to help Turkmenistan by supplying the country with such equipment.

Expressing the Islamic Republic’s readiness for building refineries, developing oil and gas fields, and supplying high-quality parts and equipment at a competitive price to the Turkmen parties, he invited the oil and gas officials of Turkmenistan to visit Iran to get familiar with the capabilities of the country’s oil industry.

The Turkmen side for his part welcomed the presence of Iranian companies, especially from the Oil Ministry, in that exhibition, expressing hope that the cooperation between the two friendly and brotherly countries would develop.

In another meeting, the vice president of the country’s national oil company Türkmennebit underlined the Iranian oil industry’s ability and capacity, saying: “We will be happy to see the names of more Iranian companies in Turkmenistan in the near future.”

The representative of Turkmenistan’s state chemical company Turkmenhimiya also said in his meeting with the Iranian delegation that very good suggestions have been made for cooperation between the two sides and the company is eager to cooperate with Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) for the benefit of both countries.

At the end of the meetings, it was decided that the Turkmen parties should provide Iran with a list of the equipment and parts needed by their oil industry through diplomatic authorities so that the Iranian side can take action to supply them.

In last February, also Iranian Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare Solat Mortazavi said Tehran and Ashgabat have set it on the agenda to expand cooperation for the development of transportation infrastructure in order to increase trade exchanges.

Mortazavi made the remarks following a meeting with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashit Owezgeldiyewich Meredow.

Speaking in that meeting, Mortazavi said the two countries have historical, cultural, and religious roots and commonalities that can facilitate economic cooperation.

The 13th government and President Ebrahim Raisi's special foreign policy approach is paying special attention to the neighbors, the official said.

“We follow developing relations with Turkmenistan more sensitively”, he stated, adding that cooperation between the two countries should be developed in all fields, especially in the economic and infrastructure areas.

Meanwhile, Meredow referred to the good relations between the two countries and existing cultural commonalities, saying that the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Committee is a suitable platform for finding solutions for developing economic relations and removing obstacles to cooperation.

He added that the public and private sectors of Turkmenistan are also fully prepared to hold an exclusive exhibition in Tehran.

Emphasizing the need to develop the road and rail transport infrastructure, the Turkmen Minister said the Islamic Republic of Iran can be a gateway for Central Asia’s access to the Persian Gulf states.

The 15th exclusive exhibition of Iranian products kicked off in Turkmenistan’s capital city Ashgabat in mid-February, 2023.

The inaugural ceremony of the exhibit was attended by Mortazavi as well as some Turkmen officials.

The exhibition was participated by more than 90 Iranian companies active in the fields of agriculture and food industry, construction industry, cement, oil and energy, petrochemical products, auto parts, technical and engineering services, medicine, and medical equipment.

EF/MA