Kazakhstan, Iran ink MoU to bolster agricultural ties

Tehran, IRNA – Officials from Kazakhstan and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop cooperation in agriculture, trade, industry, logistics, transportation, and technology exchange. According to the maj.ir, Minister of Agriculture Jihad of Iran Javad Sadatinejad and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin signed the MoU in Tehran on Wednesday. Kazakhstan and Iran have targeted the increase of mutual trade to reach around one billion dollars in accordance with mutual understandings achieved by the presidents of both nations. The exchanges of delegations specialized in veterinary medicine and plant protection along with formation of a committee within the next month to monitor the pace of coordination are among the goals of the MoU in order to pave the way for developing trade of agricultural products. The two sides also underlined the need for introducing relevant entities from both parties to implement the agreements in terms of transit and swap of wheat in a two-week period. Kazakhstan and Iran called for expansion of cooperation in the field of food security, for instance, supply of dairy products, fruits, dried fruits, and vegetables from the Iranian side as well as wheat, barley, and oilseeds from the Kazakh party. On the basis of the MoU, Astana and Tehran reached a consensus to set up a joint merchant company to pursue trade of agricultural products and carry out joint agriculture projects. They also agreed upon holding exhibitions by Kazakh firms in the Iranian capital concurrent with Kazakhstan Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov’s visit to Tehran the next spring. For his part, Serik Zhumangarin appreciated the warm hospitality of the Iranian side during their stay in the Islamic country. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish