Iran Minister: Preferential Trade Agreement Between Iran-Turkey To Be Finalized

Ankara, Oct 6, IRNA – Iran’s Minister of Industries, Mines and Trade Mahdi Ghazanfari said here Friday talks over implementing the Preferential Trade Agreement between Iran and Turkey are almost completed and related documents would be signed and implemented soon. According to an IRNA correspondent dispatched with the high ranking Iranian delegation to Turkey, the Iranian official made the remark in a joint interview with him and an Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reporter. He added, “The long road of negotiations with out Turkish counterparts on finalizing the Preferential Trade Agreement is nearly at final destination and it has been agreed Iran would consider discounts on some 220 items of its export goods to Turkey and Turkey, too, would consider decreased customs tariff rates on its agricultural exports to Iran.” Ghazanfari pointed out that the general fundamentals of preferential trade include a series of rules and regulations plus a list of goods from each side, and there is fortunately no disagreement regarding the rules and regulations. He added, “But regarding the list of goods, in addition to the 220 items that are finalized, there remains 20 more items, which due to time shortage in Ankara, it was agreed that the matter would soon be finalized and the document would be presented to the two countries’ trade ministers to be signed and implemented.” The Islamic Republic of Iran Industries, Mines and Trade Minister Ghazanfari added, “Of course Iran and Turkey already have preferential tariff agreements in three other frameworks, including the one in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), called the ECOTA, and another one in the D8, which is comprised of eight Islamic countries that have agreed to do trade with one another in accordance with the preferential tariff regulation and finally the Islamic Countries’ Preferential Tariff Agreement Statement, called PERTAS, together with this one, they would hopefully be four in near future.” Turning to the Joint Iran-Turkey Industrial Township, the Iranian minister said, “That was another item in the agenda of our talks with Turkish officials and agreement was reached that the location proposed by Iran for the purpose would be inspected by delegations from both countries, and right there they would pursue the further negotiations on the matter.” It has also been agreed that a special set of rules and regulations for the Joint Iran-Turkey Industrial Township, to be constructed on the two countries’ border point, would be devised and Iran has already presented its proposal in this respect to concerned Turkish officials, who are surveying it. He added, “The automobile manufacturers, too, had a representative at the Iranian delegation who conducted very intensive rounds of talks with the Turkish officials and I hear negotiations with the Turkish private sector for joint work in auto industry has reached result, whose final outcome would be announced soon.” The Iranian minister refrained from presenting any further details in this respect, but said, “A part of this agreement is on sales of some Iranian made cars in Turkish car market.” Rahimi’s visit takes place upon an official invitation extended by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan. The ministers of oil, transportation, justice, industries, mines and commerce are accompanying Rahimi during his visit to Turkey. Rahimi is to confer on Friday with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul on issues of mutual interests as well as regional and international developments. It is expected that economic cooperation would feature prominently in mutual talks./end