AKIPRESS.COM - Deputy minister of industry said Tuesday Iran’s exports to Turkmenistan have reached $1bn, adding Tehran now more than ever is seeking to cement its position in Ashgabat market, Mehrnews reports.

Valiollah Afkhamirad said senior officials of Iran and Turkmenistan are making special efforts to develop trade transactions and increase the volume of commercial exchanges; “this is while Turkmenistan is fully prepared to receive Iranian products, and given our $1 billion exports to this country and their $8 billion imports from across the world, there is still room for further trade cooperation,” he said.

“Participating in trade exhibitions is one suggestion from Trade Promotion Organization of Iran in order to expand our presence in target markets,” he said, adding “those businessmen who wish to develop their transactions with CIS countries should begin with Turkmenistan.”

According to Afkhamirad, among the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Iran holds the highest record of exports to Turkmenistan, and the country's high economic growth in recent years as well as special attention of Turkmen authorities given to Iranian industrialists have made it even more possible for these two countries to expand trade cooperation.

He further added that gas barter between Iran and Turkmenistan has facilitated the exports process to this country.