Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Iran Discusses Expanding Trade with Mazandaran

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Fariduddin Nasriev, visited the city of Sari, the capital of Iran’s northern Mazandaran Province, according to Iranian media reports.

During his visit, Ambassador Nasriev held meetings with Mazandaran Governor Mehdi Younesi, Ali Taghipour, Chairman of the province’s Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, as well as with local entrepreneurs and business activists.

Discussions with the governor focused on the rapidly developing friendly relations between Uzbekistan and Iran, particularly in trade, economy, investment, tourism, and culture. Mutual initiatives aimed at further deepening bilateral cooperation were also reviewed.

As part of the visit, a B2B business forum was organized, bringing together Mazandaran’s business community. The forum featured negotiations with a delegation of more than 30 commercial and civic leaders.

On November 11, a comprehensive cooperation document between Iran and Uzbekistan was prepared and is expected to be formally signed by officials from both countries.

The three-day visit of Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade, Seyed Mohammad Atabak, to Tashkent marked an important step toward achieving the strategic vision for trade and commercial relations. It paved the way for the signing of key agreements, which will soon be formalized in a comprehensive document.

Atabak emphasized that Iran and Uzbekistan have reached new agreements aimed at strengthening trade and investment cooperation, especially in the mining and mineral sectors. During meetings in Tashkent, he held talks with Uzbekistan’s Minister of Geology and Mining, as well as the Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade. Both sides highlighted the importance of expanding industrial cooperation and mutual investments.

He noted that the new agreements “open the way for significant growth in trade and business relations between the two countries,” while stressing that, despite positive progress, both sides need to achieve the ambitious goals set by their presidents.

The Iranian delegation, which included senior officials from trade and mining sectors, arrived in Uzbekistan on November 9 to negotiate new tariff conditions, simplify customs procedures, and promote industrial partnerships.

Mohammad-Ali Dehghan Dehnavi, head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) and part of Atabak’s delegation, emphasized the need to remove existing barriers to fully realize the potential of bilateral trade. He noted that expanding commercial ties requires addressing transportation and customs challenges and called on both sides to finalize negotiations on a preferential trade agreement as soon as possible.

Dehnavi also highlighted that one of the delegation’s main goals was to facilitate railway and road freight transport and eliminate logistical bottlenecks hindering trade. Discussions also covered opportunities for cooperation in mining and mineral industries, taking into account the complementary advantages of both countries.

Atabak underscored Iran’s expertise in exploration, steel production, and mining technologies, proposing the creation of joint ventures to expand investment and technology exchange in these sectors.

The minister’s delegation included senior officials, including the head of the Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development & Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), the TPO chief, members of parliament, and leaders of major industrial companies.