DUSHANBE, May 25, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan and Iran will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on trade and economic cooperation in Dushanbe today.

According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), the document will be inked by Tajik Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister, Amonullo Ashurov and Iran’s Khurasan Province Governor, Muhammad Javad Muhammadizade.  

According to figures provided by a MoEDT said that at present a trade between Tajikistan and Iran amounts to not less than $100 million.

 According to the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), every year, some 2,500 Iranian trucks ship cargoes to Tajikistan.  “The number of Tajik trucks traveling to Iran just little fewer,” the source at a MoTC said, adding that their number will increase considerably in foreseeable future.   

In the meantime, IRNA cited Iran’s Transport Minster Mohammed Rahmati as saying that Tajikistan is interested in increase in a volume of its rail shipments through the territory of Iran.

“Due to Tajik investments and with support of Iran’s Organization for Ports and Shipping an export cargo terminal has been built in Bender Abbas, which provides shipment of goods through Iranian sea ports Shahid Rejai and Shahid Bahonar,” said the minister.  “On the other hand, this terminal also provides quick transfer of Tajik imports coming to the Bender Abbas port and shipment of them by rail to Tajikistan.”