TODAY.AZ / Business

Iran minister says joint transport projects to bring multiple benefits

18 January 2017 [17:37] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Amina Nazarli

A transport route through Azerbaijan is the most reliable and safe route for Iran, said Ali Rabiei.

The Iranian Minister for Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare made the remark as he met with Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, Ali Hasanov in Baku on January 17.

The minister said that today a lot of work carried out in the field of improvement of road transport infrastructure and joint projects are underway in this area.

"The work is underway on the construction of the railway Rasht-Astara (Iran) - Astara (Azerbaijan). This project will contribute to the creation of new jobs in our countries, and entrepreneurs will be able to use this route for business purposes. At the same time, Iran and Azerbaijan have real opportunities for cooperation in the area of maritime passenger and freight traffic," Rabiei underlined.

Azerbaijan and Iran have great potential for the development of ties in the humanitarian sphere, he said, noting that the Islamic Republic is ready to expand cooperation in areas such as rehabilitation of the disabled, production of prostheses, health and wellness sphere, etc.

Rabiei  further mentioned that the Iranian delegation headed by him consists of influential persons in the Iranian Parliament, members of the friendship groups, chiefs of committees and members of the Presidium.

“This testifies to Iran’s intention to further develop relations with Azerbaijan. We sincerely rejoice when we see development of Azerbaijan day by day, landscaping and renovation works, construction of new buildings and raising of the living standards in the country,” he added.

Hasanov, in turn, noted that a joint pharmaceutical plant is one of important projects implemented in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan.

"This project is a bright example of successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran,” he said.

On January 16 a foundation stone for the long-awaited Azerbaijan-Iran pharma plant (Caspian Pharmed) was laid in the Pirallahi Industrial Park. The construction of the plant is expected to be completed in the third quarter 2018.

Hasanov further said that relations between Azerbaijan and Iran are developing day by day.

“Iranian state and nation is our friend and brother. We share common religion and there are a lot of similarities in languages, customs and traditions, as well as history and culture,” said Hasanov.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Iranian companies participate in a number of projects in Azerbaijan.

“Today Azerbaijan speedily develops. As of 2003, the poverty rate in the country made 49 percent against 5 percent today. Economy’s dependency on the oil has substantially reduced. Some 70 percent of GDP is produced by non-oil sector of the country. One of the main purposes of Azerbaijan is to be among developed countries,” he emphasized.

Hasanov highlighted that the only problem of Azerbaijan is the unresolved the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh problem. As a result of the Armenian occupation,
Azerbaijan has more than a million of refugees and IDPs, he reminded.

He noted that despite international organizations had adopted numerous decisions and resolutions on the settlement of the conflict Armenia ignores and does not fulfill them.

“Iran has always positively approached to Azerbaijan’s objective position during discussions of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the international events and, especially, the UN meetings, and demonstrated adherence to Azerbaijan during voting,” he added.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/157826.html

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