The 13 th Session of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission Launched In

On December 23, the 13-th session of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission launched, for participation to which, the Iranian delegation has arrived in Yerevan, headed by the co-chair of the Commission's Iranian side, Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian.

The Iranian delegation composed of officials and specialists representing the various economic sectors. 

The 13th session of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission was opened by the co-chair of the Armenian side, RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharyan and the co-chair of Iranian side, Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian.

Welcoming the participants the RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharyan stressed the importance of the need of further deepening and expansion of the economic ties between two countries.

-We appreciate our friendly relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, which are at a high level, and our cooperation continues to develop in an atmosphere of mutual comprehension.
Along with this, it should be noted that in the framework of the bilateral cooperation, the economic relations are much lower than the scale indicated by the political relations, and the potential of the economic cooperation is still not fully used.

The Inter-Governmental Commission’s sessions have already proved their effectiveness in all aspects of our bilateral economic cooperation, in term of the activating and deepening the cooperation and have created reasonable prerequisites for joint projects and initiatives that are aimed at deepening and expanding the economic cooperation of our friendly countries in various fields.

The Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission’s session’s agenda includes a wide range of issues concerning relations between the two countries.

They relate to energy, transport and communication, environment, health, agriculture, education, culture, regional cooperation and many other areas.

In order to promote the development and expansion of business relations between the two countries, the parties will explore the possibility of creating of joint enterprises in different economic spheres.

The agreements reached by Iran with the countries of "Six" on nuclear programs on one hand, and the Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union on the other hand, create a favorable environment for the expansion and deepening of Armenian-Iranian trade-economic cooperation and for the implementation of the regional development programs.

Discussions in a number of directions are expected to develop the cooperation in the agricultural sphere. In particular, the possibilities of establishing of a sheep farm by the Iranian investments in Armenia will be discussed, in order to export sheep and mutton to Iran.

There will be carried out the necessary works towards the operation of the slaughterhouse by the lettering "halal", built in the Zoravan community of Yeghvard region.

Will be considered also, the possibilities of establishing joint enterprises in order to increase the volumes of the exports of food products between two countries, as well as the processing of the agricultural raw materials.

Will be discussed the projects of the organization of fish production, packaging and export by the Iranian investments in Armenia.
It is scheduled to discuss the issues related to the transportation infrastructures within the framework of the Intergovernmental commission session.

It refers to the Iran-Armenia railway, as well as the North-South Road Corridor.

Will be made reference to the issue of the current situation and problems of Armenia-Iran railway transportation, the possibilities of railway connecting between two countries and the edges of the further cooperation.

Within the framework of the energy cooperation will be discussed the construction process of the Iran-Armenia third high-voltage line, Meghri hydropower plant’s project, as well as the other issues related to cooperation between the two countries' energy systems.

Taking into consideration the broad scope of the Armenian-Iranian cooperation, there are intended cooperation programs in many areas of the financial, economic and cultural life.

At the end of the session, on December 24, will be signed "The Memorandum of Understanding of the 13th joint session of Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission."