In a meeting with the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Iran Bahador Abdullayev, Caretaker of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) Mehdi Zeyghami stressed the need for developing bilateral trade ties following the conclusion of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and removal of trade barriers facing merchants and businesspersons of the two countries.
During the meeting in Tehran, the two sides discussed a plan for holding the Iran-Uzbekistan Joint Economic Commission meeting in Tashkent and an upcoming visit by the Uzbek president to Iran.
While emphasizing the keenness of the two countries on the removal of trade barriers, Iranian and Uzbek officials stressed the need for the conclusion of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in line with easing trade.
The Uzbek envoy termed Iran as the nearest access way to high seas and called for the removal of barriers in the way of transit of goods via Iran.
Abdullayev expressed hope that Iran and Uzbekistan would outline a roadmap for reaching the target of $1 billion annual trade between the two countries in the wake of the upcoming visit of the Uzbek president to Iran.
Once transit barriers ahead of trade exchanges between Iran and Uzbekistan are removed, bilateral trade value will hit $4 billion, the envoy added.