The announcement comes as the U.S. threatens further economic sanctions on Iran, while NATO member Turkey has made it clear that it will continue, and even step up, trade with Iran.
“We want to carry the trading volume one step further. The two countries have great responsibilities and roles with regard to elevating our bilateral trading volume, which was $22 billion in 2012, to $30 billion in the forthcoming period,” Yazici said after a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Ali Reza Bikdeli.
The forecasted increase is greater than 36%.
“We, as the Customs and Trade Ministry, endeavor to achieve this target in consideration of works in revenue administration and reciprocal agreements in the field of customs between the two countries,” he added.
Yazici also announced that Turkish Cargo, an affiliate of national flag carrier Turkish Airlines, planned to launch cargo flights to Tehran.
Under the administrations of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran the trade ties between the two neighboring countries have been growing considerably.
