TODAY.AZ / Politics

FEZ Co-op Council to develop Caspian countries’ trade ties

22 January 2015 [13:00] - TODAY.AZ

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

Iran has proposed the Caspian-littoral countries to establish a new joint center to be called the Cooperation Council of Free Economic Zones, Director General of Anzali free economic zone Reza Masroor told Trend Agency on January 21.

He said the establishment of this council would contribute to the development of economic relations between the five Caspian-littoral countries.

Currently, five Caspian-littoral countries-Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan-have not yet agreed on preferential trade regime, Masroor said.

“Preferential trade will be possible between the mentioned countries after signing such an agreement,” he emphasized. “We hope that the relevant bodies of the five countries will discuss this proposal.”

Masroor went on adding that the signing of the agreement on preferential trade between the free economic zones can be a pilot project and later, this agreement can be applied to the Caspian-littoral countries in general.

“Signing of such an agreement will give an impetus to the development of trade, expansion of export and import between the Caspian Sea countries,” he said.

Masroor also emphasized the importance of expansion of cooperation between the ports on the coast of the Caspian Sea.

“Goods are mainly imported to Iran through the Shahid Rajai port, however, studies showed that the cargo transportation will be cheaper if the China-Kazakhstan (Aktau)-Iran (Anzali) corridor is used for these purposes,” he added.

Masroor said he intends to pay a visit to Azerbaijan in the second half of February 2015.

“The purpose of the visit is the development of economic and trade relations between Iran and Azerbaijan,” he said. “A number of businessmen from Gilan province will visit Azerbaijan together with me.”

The status of the Caspian Sea is one of theunresolved issues in the world. Caspian littoral states signed a framework convention for the protection of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea in November 2003.

In July 1998, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea to implement sovereign rights for subsoil use. The protocol of this agreement was signed May 2002. Agreements on the delimitation of the Caspian Sea between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan and the related protocol were signed on November 29, 2001 and February 27, 2003 respectively.

Also, an agreement on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea was signed by Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia May 14, 2003.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/138401.html

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