A major investment forum, organised by the Ministry of foreign affairs jointly with the Ministry of finance and economy, concluded in the capital of Turkmenistan. This large-scale event became a prestigious platform for dialogue, bringing together high-ranking representatives of government agencies, international financial institutions, industry organisations, and leading foreign companies.
Forum participants focused on developing regional infrastructure and deepening both bilateral and multilateral cooperation. One of the significant events of the business program was the speech by Mahdi Heidari, deputy minister of economy and finance of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who emphasised the strategic importance of the partnership with Turkmenistan.
In his speech, the representative of the Iranian delegation noted that participation in the Ashgabat forum is a valuable opportunity to reaffirm historical, friendly, and strategic ties with Turkmenistan, as well as to demonstrate determination to expand economic cooperation.
According to M. Heidari, modern investments in the region go beyond local national markets. The main objective is to create a single economic space linking the markets of Iran, Turkmenistan and all of Central Asia.
«The foundation for such integration is the International «North-South» Transport Corridor, the Middle Corridor, and the active development of logistics links between the Caspian region, the Persian Gulf, and global trade routes. In this context, Iran is ready to provide public and private entities from Turkmenistan and Central Asian countries with direct access to Persian Gulf ports and Middle Eastern markets. In turn, Turkmenistan serves as a strategic bridge for Iran to the broader Eurasian economic space. We must view investment not simply as a movement of capital from one country to another, but as a tool for building strong regional economic connectivity», – the Iranian economist emphasised.
During the presentation, four key areas were outlined in detail that could become drivers of a new stage of economic cooperation.
The first – energy. There are ample opportunities here to exploit the potential of gas swap supplies, develop infrastructure for the transportation, storage and processing of energy resources, and deepen cooperation in the petrochemical industry.
The second – transit and logistics. Targeted investment in the modernisation of railways and roads, bridges, border terminals, and logistics centers in the Caspian sea will significantly reduce the time and cost of regional trade.
The third – agriculture and food industry. Combining the agricultural production of Central Asian countries with Iranian processing, packaging, and rapid delivery capabilities will enable joint access to international markets.
And the fourth sphere is industrial investments. Here, it is necessary to actively utilize the potential of free and special economic zones, which provide investors with a unified platform with access to domestic and transit routes.
The deputy minister of economy and finance of Iran reminded that Tehran and Ashgabat have a wealth of historical experience in successfully implementing large-scale joint projects.
In this regard, the main call of the speaker was the need to transform existing experience into a «new generation of investments» that is, projects that will create sustainable supply chains, strengthen national economies, and serve the well-being of peoples. The Iranian side expressed its readiness for open and constructive dialogue with both its Turkmen colleagues and all interested international investors.
