Kazakhstan ready to meet Iran's grain needs - PM

ASTANA. Jan 30 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan is ready to meet Iran's grain needs.Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref discussed an increase in trade and measures to develop transit infrastructure, Bektenov's press service said.

"The Kazakh side expressed interest in diversifying, expanding the range and increasing the volume of exports of 60 types of goods with a total value of more than $132 million. In particular, Kazakhstan has harvested more than 26 million tonnes of grain this year. Domestic exporters are ready to meet the demand of the Iranian market for grain products, including wheat, barley and oilseeds," the press service said after a meeting of Bektenov and Aref in Almaty as part of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

Trade between the countries rose 8.1% to almost $300 million in 11M 2024, while trade in agricultural products grew 25% to $186 million.

The meeting also discussed cooperation in the transport and logistics sector with a view to increasing the volume of cargo transport on the international North-South corridor, expanding transit opportunities and developing infrastructure.

"The prospects of modernizing the terminals of Kazakh (Aktau, Kuryk) and Iranian (Anzali, Amirabad) ports were considered," the press release said.