A two-way trade between Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which have many things in common, including common language, culture and religion, has been recovering for the second year after a seven-year fall.
According to data from the Agency for Statistics under President of Tajikistan, the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Iran over the first quarter of this year has valued at about 66.9 million U.S. dollars, which is 4.5 times more than in the same period of last year.
In January-March this year, the two-way trade between Tajikistan and Iran consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Iran estimated at 33.4 million U.S. dollars US$4,600 and Tajikistan’s imports from Iran worth 33.5 million U.S. dollars.
A trend towards recovery of the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Iran began last year. In 2021, the bilateral trade between the two countries valued at more than 120 million somonis, which is 2.1 times more than in 2020.
Prior to that, trade between Tajikistan and Iran has fallen more than five times during seven years: from nearly 300 million U.S dollars in 2013 to 58 million U.S. dollars in 2020.
If trade between Tajikistan and Iran continues to grow the same pace as in the first quarter of this year, it will may return this year to the 2013 level.
Tajikistan’s exports to Iran include cotton fiber, cotton yarn, primary aluminum and aluminum ware, while Tajikistan’s imports from Iran include various food goods, building materials, machinery and equipment.
In early March this year, Tajik and Iranian energy ministries discussed the possibility of importing Iranian petroleum products into Tajikistan.
Recall, Muzaffar Muhammadi, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Tajik Embassy in Tehran, said in an exclusive interview with Iran Daily on April 4 that relations between Tajikistan and Iran should outrank any of the two countries’ ties with other states given their numerous cultural and historical commonalities.
He noted that during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Dushanbe in September 2021, eight cooperation documents were signed.
According to him, they are now preparing the ground for the implementation of those agreements.
The Tajik diplomat added that the background of the two countries’ bilateral political relations is also good.
To-date, the two countries have reportedly signed over 160 bilateral agreements, which have prepared the ground for their legal cooperation in all sectors.
