Iran’s Agriculture Minister Seyed Javad Sadatinejad said
Iran and Kazakhstan have plans underway to increase the volume of their trade
transactions up to $3 billion in the next year.

“The presidents of the two countries have met two times in
the last months [and stressed the need for strengthening mutual ties]. We have
reached an agreement to boost the trade between the two countries up to $3
billion,” Sadatinejad said.

He made the remarks on Monday after a meeting with
Kazakhstan’s Acting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Integration
Serik Jumangarin in Tehran.

The Iranian minister added that a joint commission will be
established between the two countries to help remove trade barriers, boost the
economic exchanges between the two countries, and materialize trade deals.

He further said that Tehran hopes it can soon start exports
of citrus fruits to Kazakhstan under the new agreements reached between the two
countries. The minister also said that Iran is seeking extraterrestrial
cultivation projects in the Central Asian country.

Iran announces visa waiver for Kazakhstan

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian agriculture minister
pointed to a mutual deal on cancelling visa requirements for traders, tourists
and drivers travelling between the two countries, and said Astana has allowed
visa-free travel for Iranian traders, tourists and drivers, adding that the
14-day visa waiver for Kazak citizens will be activated as well. He said it
will be implemented on November 11, 2022.

Jumangarin, for his part, described the level of ties
between the two counties as “strategic” and said the trade turnover is expected
to reach $3 billion. “We are ready to export wheat and barley to Iran and
import citrus fruits, date, pistachio and persimmon”.

Stressing that all potentials and capabilities in shipping
and logistics should be tapped, the acting deputy prime minister said he will
be on a tour to Iran’s Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf on Tuesday in a bid to
launch his country’s commercial port in the southern city.

Iran and Kazakhstan will continue to work to make
transportation between the two countries less costly and easier in the future,
the official noted.

Iran has seen a major surge in international cargo
transportation through its territory, especially to and from the Central Asian
region, thanks to a recent understanding with Turkmenistan.

Jumangarin also said that Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan
will soon sign deals to swap electricity.