Tehran, IRNA – Agriculture ministers of Iran and Uzbekistan in a meeting on Monday agreed to establish a joint committee to increase agricultural transaction between the two countries.
During the meeting, Iranian Agriculture Minister Javad Sadatinejad said that agricultural business between Iran and Uzbekistan saw growth last year, but this was not satisfactory to the leaders of both countries.
He named agriculture, animal husbandry, and fishery as the areas of interest for the two countries’ economic interaction.
Sadatinejad said that Iran was ready to export live chickens and infant formula to Uzbekistan, organize joint exhibition to introduce products of the two countries, and also import camels from the Central Asian country.
He highlighted Uzbekistan’s remoteness from open waters and said that Iran was ready to cooperate with Tashkent in exporting its agricultural products through marine routes.
The minister also said that Iran has giant companies that can help Uzbekistan in mechanization, irrigation, and drainage.
Iran has also big greenhouse construction companies that can train and develop the technology in Uzbekistan.
Sadatinejad demanded that Iran be granted the most-favored-nation status by Uzbekistan to receive the same trade advantages as 45 other countries have in business with Uzbekistan.
Elsewhere in the meeting, Uzbek Agriculture Minister Jamshid Khodjaev urged holding joint conferences on farming, horticulture, fishery, and plant protection.
He said that Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan who has traveled to Iran along with a delegation would meet Iran’s foreign minister later today, with Iran’s most-favored-nation status being on the agenda.
The Iranian and Uzbek ministers agreed that the joint cooperation committee start working within one month.
Source: Islamic Republic News Agency – IRNA
