"Certain infrastructural measures like the completion of the railway in Northern Iran and the start of operation by shipping lines between Astara (in Iran) and Baku will boost the volume of trade exchanges between Iran and Azerbaijan," Pak Ayeen said in Baku on Friday.
He also referred to other potentials for the development of Tehran's trade relations with Baku, including Azerbaijan's need to 2.5mln tons of cement, and said, "Given the extensive volume of construction underway in this neighboring state, Iran can supply a major part of Azerbaijan's cement needs."
The Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. It is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Islamic Republic of Iran to the south.
Iran has an embassy in Baku and a consulate-general in Nakhichevan City. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Tehran and a consulate-general in Tabriz. Both countries are full members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in September called current relations between Iran and Azerbaijan as friendly and constructive, and said that Tehran tries to explore new avenues for expansion of bilateral ties.
Iranian foreign minister pointed out that despite the attempts made by the enemies to sow discord between the two brotherly nations and governments, Tehran is eager to boost and strengthen mutual ties in various political, economic, business and cultural arenas with Baku.
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Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pak Ayeen expressed the hope that the two countries' developing transportation infrastructures would help increase the trade relations between Tehran and Baku.
News ID 183099
