Iran urges promotion of trade with Afghanistan
21 October, 2007
LONDON: Visiting Iranian deputy foreign minister called for expansion of bilateral trade with Afghanistan, IRNA reported. In a meeting with Afghan and Iranian businessmen, the Iranian official Alireza Sheikh-Attar referred to common cultural, religious and historical grounds of the Iranian and Afghan nations. He said Iran was the first country which launched reconstruction projects in Afghanistan, adding that some $250 mln have already been spent by Iran in this field and the assigned figure for the current year is $50 mn. He also remarked that by completion of the railway network, connection between this neighboring country and southern Iranian ports as well as European countries will be established. Sheikh-Attar said Iran is ready to provide technical and management services to Afghanistan to help it with production of various commodities. He put the official figure of two-way trade at $450 mln a year.
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