Iran and Tajikistan are planning to increase the volume of joint investments in various spheres and develop bilateral cooperation, Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjoo spoke yesterday, May 28, in Tehran at the 9th session of the Tajik-Iranian intergovernmental commission for trade and economic, scientific and technical and cultural cooperation.
The two nations have common cultural and religious ties, Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Mr. Namjoo as saying. “Establishment of the joint intergovernmental commission demonstrates a good will of the two states for strengthening of bilateral relations in all spheres,” he said.
He stressed that there is a need to speed up implementation of bilateral documents.
On Monday Mr. Namjoo said that Iran is holding talks with Tajikistan on import of at least 1bln cubic meters of drinking water.
As reported by the Tehran Times, Iranian energy minister said that Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan have previously agreed to set up a joint water and energy corridor.
“National energy networks of the three countries should be connected to a 500-kilowatt power line,” he said, adding that technical aspects of the project and the volume of required investments are being currently evaluated.
Mr. Namjoo stressed that in March this year Tajik, Afghan and Iranian leaders signed memorandum of understanding for construction of a road that will link the three countries.
In the course of their trilateral meeting in Dushanbe on March 25 Presidents of the three countries signed the agreement of cooperation for development of communications.
“The road will let us lay a new pipeline to import oil and gas from Iran and deliver drinking water from Tajikistan to Iran, Afghanistan and other countries of the Persian Gulf,” he said. “We also discuss an opportunity for construction of oil processing factory in Tajikistan.”
Co-chairman of the Tajik-Iranian intergovernmental commission, Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjoo and co-chairman of the commission, Tajik Energy and Industry Minister Gul Sherali signed the final protocol of the session.
