The ICT Minister, attending the follow up session on the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Commission, said that: “There is going to be no limitations regarding expansion of cooperation with Azerbaijan.”
ICT’s Public Relation Center reports that Dr. Vaezi stated regarding his meeting with Shahin Mustafayev, head of Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Commission, that: “Today we had discussions and negotiations revolving energy, oil, gas, petrochemicals, water and electricity, also trade and commerce, customs and banking services; we established 7 working committees today, which are going to present their results this afternoon.”
Maintaining that areas of cooperation are expanding, Vaezi included that: “The Iran-Azeri relations have grown to the extent that the 500 thousand tourists entering Iran from our neighbor nation has increased to 800 thousand.”
He also referred to the transport network between both countries, saying: “We have held serious discussions regarding land and air transport, especially about joining the railroad networks of Iran and Azerbaijan through Astara region, and we already have come to a good agreement regarding Astara bridge.”
Vaezi mentioned the ongoing negotiations about health and agriculture sector, adding that: “We intend to exchange an agreement on livestock and veterinary services that, if signed, will take care of the existing problems in regard to import-export in this sector.”
He said: “Current trade volume between our two countries is about $500 million, which should increase threefold by the coming year.”
The Communication and Information Technology Minister pointed out the existing opportunities for cooperation between two countries in the ICT market, saying: “From the hardware and software aspect, Azerbaijan is a good market for Iranian companies. This country is ahead of Iran in space technologies through the purchase of a satellite and Iran can benefit from their surplus capacity.”
He also underscored that: “The parties came to agreement regarding visa facilities and removal of visa limitations which will result in an easier environment especially for activities of merchants and traders.”
Vaezi mentioned the visit of the Azeri ICT Minister which took place last year, and added: “Since that visit was a limited and short one, it is necessary that the esteemed Minister visits Iran once again to further develop bilateral cooperation in the field of communication.”
He mentioned the existing opportunities for cooperation in areas such as optic-fiber, data and satellite, including that: “There are just too many opportunities for bilateral cooperation and there is no limit in this case.”
Vaezi highlighted that: “Under the new conditions where the whole world is going to begin cooperating extensively with Iran, we are never going to forget our dear old friends, and we hope that with this new era all existing obstacles in various sectors will be completely removed.”
The Communication Minister, expressing his optimism and high hopes for this round of Tehran-Baku negotiations, added that: “Political will for expanding bilateral relations exist at the highest level of both countries.”
He stated that: “It is our hope and wish that the nuclear agreement will not only result in strengthening of Iran-Azerbaijan relations, but will bring peace and stability to the region.”
The Communication Minister referred to the previous session of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Commission held last year in Baku, saying: “We hope that all the items discussed in the commission are going to become operational.”
Vaezi stressed that: “The order to further develop and expand bilateral relations, have come directly from the political will of the Presidents of both countries, and it is our task to simply pursue it to the very end.”
Stating that today’s session is the groundwork for holding the next Joint Commission’s session, he concluded: “The further growth of bilateral investments between Iran and Azerbaijan is on the agenda.”