RIYADH, 21 December — The commerce ministers of the Kingdom and Iran will jointly chair a series of meetings of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Commission in February in Tehran, according to an informed source.
The meetings over two days will discuss a range of issues related to trade including the simplification of visa procedures for businessmen, particularly from the Iranian side, ways to increase the volume of mutual trade and joint investments, and removal of hurdles before the speedy cargo movement, according to a recent report in Al-Watan newspaper.
On the sidelines of the ministerial meetings, businessmen from both sides will hold discussions. A delegation of 30 businessmen is expected to accompany Commerce Minister Osama Faqeeh to participate in the meetings.
A number of outstanding issues particularly, the land and sea transportation that has been an issue of contention over a long time, are expected to be resolved in the meetings.
Iran had earlier proposed to open direct shipping lines between the King Abdul Aziz port in Dammam and Bushahr port in Iran.
The Iranian port can serve as a transit point for Saudi goods to be shipped to the Central Asian Islamic republics. Iran has also proposed the founding of a joint company for cargo handling.
The last ministerial meeting between the two countries held in Riyadh in January had discussed the issue. However, that meeting ended without an agreement.
The Iranian side is also interested in the proposed railway project in the Kingdom as Iranian businessmen have shown willingness to supply railway coaches and invest in maintenance and operation of the railways.
Several trade agreements are expected to be signed during the meetings. The Riyadh meetings in January resulted in deals worth $15 million.
