Tajik PM leads delegation to Tehran for high-level talks, Caspian Forum

Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda will arrive in Tehran on February 17 for an official bilateral visit at the invitation of Iran's First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref to attend the 3rd Caspian Economic Forum.

Rasulzoda is leading a high-ranking delegation and will participate in important discussions aimed at strengthening ties between Tajikistan and Iran, Caliber.Az reports per Iranian media.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will attend the 3rd Caspian Economic Forum, set to take place in Tehran on February 17-18.

The forum will be a key regional event, bringing together prime ministers and ministers from Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan to discuss economic cooperation and regional development.

The Caspian Economic Forum, aims to foster enhanced economic, trade, scientific, and technological cooperation among the Caspian littoral states. Key topics for discussion include healthcare, energy, finance, tourism, investment in free trade zones, and logistics.

Iran's Trade Promotion Organization has organized seven specialized panels for the first day of the event, focusing on critical sectors such as trade, industry, and agriculture (Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade); economic, customs, banking, and investment cooperation (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance); transportation, transit, and engineering services (Ministry of Transport and Urban Development); environmental, health, and tourism cooperation (Department of Environment); energy collaboration, covering oil, gas, electricity, and renewables (Ministry of Oil and Ministry of Energy); scientific and technological cooperation (Vice Presidency for Science and Technology); and dialogues among the heads of chambers of commerce (Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture).

On the second day of the forum, the prime ministers of the five Caspian littoral states—Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Iran—are expected to sign a final declaration outlining measures to further strengthen cooperation and establish a framework for periodic ministerial follow-ups.

The Caspian Economic Forum builds on the Caspian Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement, which was first signed in August 2018 in Kazakhstan and ratified by Iran’s Parliament in January 2023. Under Article 5 of the agreement, the forum is to be held periodically in each of the coastal nations.

The inaugural Caspian Economic Forum and exhibition took place in August 2019 in Awaza, Turkmenistan, with participation from prime ministers and trade delegations. The second forum was held in Moscow in October 2022, attended by Iran’s former First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and other leaders. Following the agreements reached there, Iran is now hosting the third edition of the forum.

By Vafa Guliyeva