Iran exported non-oil commodities valued at $603 million to Pakistan during the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-July 22), according to the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).Foroud Asgari said that Pakistan was Iran’s sixth top non-oil export destination in the mentioned four-month period.On August 3, an Iran–Pakistan Business Conference was held in Islamabad with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in attendance, alongside a high-ranking delegation. The event was hosted by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.Upon his arrival at the conference venue, Pezeshkian was welcomed by Senator Dar. The gathering brought together numerous business leaders, officials from chambers of commerce, and representatives of major Pakistani investment firms.In his opening remarks, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan welcomed the finalization of a draft Free Trade Agreement between the two countries and said both sides are committed to resolving tariff-related issues and enhancing border infrastructure.He announced that the next session of the Iran–Pakistan Joint Economic Commission will be held in Tehran next month and highlighted the activation of the Pishin–Mand border market as a joint commitment aimed at boosting bilateral trade. He also revealed plans to open a new border crossing at Chadgi–Kouhak.Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade Mohammad Atabak, also addressed the conference, expressing appreciation for Pakistan’s support of Iran during Israel’s recent 12-day offensive, which he said had deeply resonated with the Iranian public.Atabak noted that while trade volumes between the two countries had increased last year, implementation of current agreements will require expansion of land terminals, improvement of rail connectivity, and enhanced port cooperation.Senator Dar emphasized the close ties between Iran and Pakistan under the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and invited Iranian investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan, citing broad economic reforms and the creation of a special investment facilitation council.Referring to his recent talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Dar said both countries are determined to strengthen cooperation in customs and border infrastructure development.Iran and Pakistan have been striving to expand economic cooperation despite longstanding infrastructure bottlenecks and geopolitical challenges. Both nations are part of the ECO bloc and share strategic interests in regional trade connectivity, especially through initiatives like the Pishin–Mand border market and the INSTC corridor.Also, Reza Masrour, Secretary of Iranian Free Trade, Industrial and Special Economic Zones High Council, who was one of the delegates accompanying President Pezeshkian during his visit to Pakistan, said that Iran and Pakistan were exploring joint agricultural ventures and transport corridor integration as part of efforts to boost bilateral trade, including plans for cross-border rice cultivation and connecting Pakistan’s China-backed economic corridor to Iran.He proposed several initiatives in a meeting with Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, held on August 3, on the sidelines of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s official trip to Pakistan.Among the key proposals were joint paddy farming in Pakistan and processing the rice in Iran’s Chabahar Free Zone, as a way to address Iran’s severe water shortages while expanding agricultural cooperation.Masrour also called for multi-entry business visas, the establishment of a joint free zone, and linking the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through Iran to Russia and Europe via the International North–South Transit Corridor (INSTC).“These ideas reflect our neighborhood-focused policy, and the potential to unlock joint production and significantly expand trade,” Masrour said, emphasizing the shared cultural and historical ties between the two countries.Pakistan’s commerce minister welcomed the proposals and said their implementation could substantially boost the current trade volume, which he estimated at around $3.0 billion. (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: Tehran Times