Late on Friday (June 31), Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin met in Tehran with Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian to discuss energy cooperation between the two countries.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency (Tasnim) says Iranian energy minister voiced his country’s readiness to offer Tajikistan an energy transit route for the economic development of the region
Reza Ardekanian reportedly hailed Tajikistan’s enormous potential for power generation, saying, “Around 15 percent of the total capacity of the world’s hydroelectric power plant lies in Tajikistan. Once operational, such capacity will definitely play a significant role in the development of the region.”
“Therefore, Iran is ready to provide Tajikistan with an energy transit route and supply the main infrastructure for economic activities in the region,” Ardekanian noted.
Highlighting Iran’s great potential for cooperation with all neighboring states in the water and electricity sector, Ardakanian said Tajik top diplomat’s visit to Iran could accelerate economic cooperation between Tehran and Dushanbe.
Ardakanian also noted that his ministry is in charge of the joint commissions on economic and trade cooperation with Tajikistan, Russia, Afghanistan and Armenia, saying the Iranian Energy Ministry is in contact with the neighbors for economic interaction in all sectors, not the water and electricity industries alone.
For his part, Tajik foreign minister called for efforts to promote cooperation between the two countries, stressing that the ties between Tajikistan and Iran will be never severed.
Expressing satisfaction with the presence of Iranian companies in Tajikistan’s energy projects, Muhriddin said plans have been devised to strengthen energy cooperation with Iran.
Muhriddin also hoped that the 13th meeting of Iran-Tajikistan joint commission for trade and economic cooperation, due to be held in Tehran within the next few months, would enhance their bilateral cooperation.
The bulk of Tajikistan’s transit and economic problems is due to lack of access to the sea, Muhriddin added, saying Tajikistan seeks to use the capacities available in Iran’s southeastern port city of Chabahar to resolve its problems.
