The two-day 15th meeting of the Tajikistan-Iran joint commission for trade and economic cooperation is concluding in Tehran today.  

Co-chaired by Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma and Iranian Minister of Energy Ali-Akbar Mehrabian, the meeting has been focused on cooperation between the two countries in sectors like trade, hydropower and culture.  

According to IRNA, Iran’s Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian noted yesterday that the bilateral trade between Iran and Tajikistan has risen three times over the first eleven months of this year compared to the same period last year.  

“We are witnessing a rise in exchanges this year and it is hoped that the growth would continue,” Mehrabian said without elaborating on trade growth figures.

The minister reportedly made the remarks while opening the meeting.  He said that trade ties between Iran and Tajikistan rose significantly in 2013 before it started to decline, IRNA says.

Meanwhile, according to data from the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Iran in January-September this year has valued at 157.2965 million U.S. dollars.  This reportedly consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Iran estimated at 73.1245 U.S. million dollars and Tajikistan’s imports from Iran worth 84.172 U.S. million dollars.  

Concerning cooperation between Iran and Tajikistan in the energy sector, Mehrabian reportedly remarked on Monday on the sidelines of the 15th meeting of the Tajikistan-Iran commission for trade and economic cooperation that Tajikistan has a series of important hydropower projects to which the Iranian companies could contribute.

The minister told the IRNA that Tajikistan has nearly 6.5 gigawatts (GW) of hydroelectric power plants, adding that the country plans to increase its electricity generation capacity in the sector to 10 GW.

He said that building hydroelectric power plants seems to be the economically viable option in Tajikistan due to the abundant water resources in the country and its geographical position which is located in mountain ranges.

Mehrabian said he had urged Tajik authorities to try to make use of Iranian firms to develop the Roghun hydroelectric power project.

IRNA also says Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma yesterday visited Tehran Province Water and Wastewater Company.

During the visit, Tajik minister reported noted that Tajikistan is interested in leveraging Iran’s scientific and technical experiences in water management projects.

Tehran Province Water and Wastewater Company (TPWW Company) is in charge of clean water supply as well as the hygienic disposal of sewage of the urban districts of Tehran Province.  TPWW Company and its sub-companies are in charge of supplying urban water as well as establishing other installations related to the collection, disposal and treatment of wastewater as well as their management in the cities of Tehran Province.