Iranian minister: Silk Road countries account for 40% of global trade

TEHRAN,June 24(MNA) - Some 40 percent of the total global trade is related to 27 countries, which are located in the Silk Road, the IRNA News Agency quoted Iranian Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari as saying. Addressing the opening ceremony of a conference on the Silk Road in the northeastern city of Tabriz, he said that Iran is among the top ten countries in terms of minerals, cement and copper reserves. He emphasized on the need for removing obstacles on the way of trade among nations. Silk Road extending from Europe through Egypt, Somalia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Java-Indonesia, and Vietnam until it reaches China.