Iran, Turkey to Set Up Joint Industrial District
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian deputy minister said plans have been devised to establish a joint industrial district with Turkey, which he said is eager to use low-cost Iranian energy for production.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Iran’s Deputy Industry Minister Mohsen Salehinia said Turkey has voiced willingness to found a joint industrial district with Iranian investors.
The Turks seek to enjoy cheap energy in Iran for joint industrial production, he said, adding that the industrial district will be set up once Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade reaches a final conclusion.
The deputy minister went on to say that Iran has held consultations with Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology on the location of the joint complex, and has proposed two locations in the northwestern provinces of East Azarbaijan and West Azarbaijan.
Salehinia also said that negotiations have been conducted with Iran’s Energy Ministry about the tariffs on energy carriers that would encourage Turkish investors to work on the joint project.
Iran and Turkey have set a $30-billion annual trade target, signing several agreements to enhance cooperation in various areas.
Iran was ranked 19th in the list of top export destinations of Turkey and has been reported as the 7th major source of imports to Turkey in the first five months of 2018.
In October 2017, Erdogan visited Iran to attend the fourth round of strategic meetings between Iran and Turkey.
