Tehran, Ankara: Keen on expanding bilateral trade exchange

Iran and Turkey expressed keenness on boosting trade exchange between them to reach USD 30 billion in 2015. Iranian Communications and Information Technology Minister Mahmoud Vaezi and visiting Turkish Development and Planning Minister Cevdet Yilmaz made the remarks during a meeting of a joint committee on trade and economic relations. Vaezi added that his country places a great deal of importance on neighboring and friendly countries, particularly Turkey. For his part, the Turkish minister indicated how good bilateral relations were, noting that the amount of trade exchange reached USD 200 million in 2002, however it surpassed USD 14 billion last year. Yilmaz said Turkey and Iran should sign an agreement to further cement trade and commercial relations, in particular giving the private sector a bigger role in joint investment. The Turkish minister noted also the importance of investments, establishing border cities, in addition to cooperation on tourism and petrochemicals