Iran-Turkmenistan-Border Markets
Governor General of North Khorassan Province here Monday stressed need to establish border markets at joint borders with Turkmenistan at two countries' Raaz and Jergolan borders.

Mohammad Hossein Jahanbakhsh made the comment in a meeting with Islamic Republic of Iran's Ambassador in Turkmenistan, adding, "The IRI Government approved a bill for establishment of this market in 1994 and during the past two years over five billion rials (over US $5mn) has been allocated to this project.

Pointing out that the Turkmen community in the region is quite a deprived society, he said, "The establishment of this market would in addition to strengthening the economic foundations of the region's community boost their cultural activities and create lots of new jobs there."
Pointing out that Parseh Sou Market is quite close to
Turkmenistan's capital city, Ashkhabad, and that is a privilege for it, Jahanbakhsh said, "Presence of the same ethnic groups on two sides of the border and the economic and social privileges of the region are the distinctive features of this market in comparison with country's other such centers."
The Government's highest official in North Khorassan Province asked Iran's Ambassador in Turkmenistan to consult with Turkmen economic officials about accelerating the efforts aimed at the establishment of the border market on their side.

Islamic Republic of Iran's Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Mohammad Reza Forqani, too, during the meeting elaborated on moves made for the establishment of the market and the IRI Embassy's serious pursuing of the matter.

Head of the Foreign Ministry's North and Northwest Office Hassan Seifi, who was also attending the meeting said that the North Khorassan Province has a high potential for establishment of economic, cultural and social relations with neighboring countries.

Pointing out the need for the managers of border markets to be well informed of the international trade laws, Seifi announced his affiliated ministry's readiness to offer practical training courses in the field.

Other officials present at the meeting included the representative of Bojnourd at the Parliament Mahdi Shahriari, head of North Khorassan Customs Organization, and a number of other provincial officials.

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