Monday, November 4 2019 19:37

ArmInfo. Within the framework of a working visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) on November 2, RA Minister of Territorial Administration and  Infrastructure Suren Papikyan met with the Minister of Energy of the  Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) Reza Ardakanian, with whom he  discussed a number of important issues on the agenda of the  Armenian-Iranian cooperation in the energy sector.

According to the official statement of the department, Reza  Ardakanian noted that the visit of Minister Papikyan is a good  occasion to discuss the details of the agreements reached by the  heads of state during the meeting of the EAEU Supreme Council in  Yerevan and the sequence of practical steps towards their  implementation.

The parties also touched upon the pace of construction of the  Iran-Armenia 3rd power transmission line with a capacity of 400 kW,  the construction of which is scheduled to be completed in December  2020.  The Minister spoke about the current stage of the  Armenia-Georgia power transmission line construction program and the  prospects for the formation of a regional electricity market,  emphasizing in this vein the role of Armenia as an energy transit  corridor between the EAEU and Iranian electricity markets.  On  November 3, Suren Papikyan met with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan  Zangane and Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development Mohammed  Eslami. During the meeting, the interlocutors exchanged views on the  possibilities of more efficient use of the Armenian-Iranian program  "Gas for electricity", as well as the conditions for the supply of  oil-based bitumen to Armenia, necessary for road construction.  Papikyan presented the vision and proposals of Armenia to expand  cooperation in the field of road construction.  According to the  source, the parties touched upon the construction of an interstate  highway leading to the Armenian-Iranian border, the restoration and  strengthening of road infrastructure at the border sections, as well  as streamlining and simplifying procedures in the process of cargo  transportation. In order to detail these issues, an agreement was  reached on the creation of a joint Armenian-Iranian infrastructure  commission.

During the meeting, important accents were made regarding the  expansion of the transit capabilities of Armenia and Iran and the  increase in the existing level of trade. The importance of  implementing the road transport and energy components of the  North-South corridor was noted.  Suren Papikyan invited his Iranian  colleagues to visit Armenia in order to strengthen, deepen and  increase the existing level of Armenian-Iranian relations.

According to the Statcommittee of the Republic of Armenia, in  January-August 2019 foreign trade turnover between Armenia and Iran  increased by 12.7%, amounting to $ 244 million. At the same time,  exports fell by 16.3% to $ 52.7 million, while imports grew by 24.6%  to $ 191.3 million