INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
billion in the first seven months of the past year.The trade between Iran and Turkey increased by 33 percent to $3.847 billion, up from
rise to hit $1.702 billion during the January-July period, from $1.507 billion the same time span in 2021.Increasing non-oil exports to the
neighboring countries is one of the major plans that the Iranian government has been pursuing in recent years.During a webinar, held in
March, on trade relations between Iran and Turkey, which was held through cooperation between Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines
and Agriculture (TCCIMA) and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC), and attended by officials from both chambers and a group of entrepreneurs,
ways to develop economic relations between the two countries and some problems in this due were examined.In this virtual conference, which
was attended by more than 250 entrepreneurs from Iran and Turkey, the opportunities for cooperation between the two countries were examined
and the two sides emphasized the development of cooperation.Addressing the conference, Nihat Alayoglu, the secretary-general of Istanbul
Chamber of Commerce, referring to the political, economic and cultural similarities between Iran and Turkey, said: "The two countries have
long-standing relations dating back more than 400 years, and more than 500 kilometers of common border, as well as several trade agreements
added that the value of trade between Iran and Turkey has increased from $1.2 billion in 2001 to about $5.6 billion in 2021
Of this amount, $2.7 billion is allocated to Turkish exports to Iran and $2.8 billion is related to Iran's exports to Turkey
Machinery and equipment are among the top exports of Turkey to Iran, and mainly materials such as copper and plastic are imported from
Iran.Noting that Turkey accounts for seven percent of Iran's $39-billion imports, he added: "Our goal is to increase Turkish exports to Iran
to $10 billion, and it is obvious that the two countries' chambers of commerce have a role to play in increasing trade cooperation."Bahman
Eshqi, the secretary-general of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, for his part put emphasis on the significance of expanding economic ties between
the Silk Road and the lands of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members
countries is a necessity, Eshqi continued: "Compromise between the two nations has been strong for the last three centuries, and although at
times there have been competitions between the two countries, Iran-Turkey cooperation is still developing."MA/MA
