BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 5. Iran has proposed
forming a unified economic space linking the markets of Iran,
Turkmenistan and Central Asia
The proposal was voiced by Iranian Deputy Minister of Economy
and Finance Mehdi Heydari said during his speech at the
Turkmenistan Investment Forum TIF 2026, held in Ashgabat, according
to the press release published by the press service of the Turkmen
government yesterday.
He said regional investment should no longer be viewed solely
through the framework of individual national markets, but should
contribute to creating an integrated economic space connecting
Iran, Turkmenistan and Central Asian countries.
According to Heydari, the International North-South Transport
Corridor (INSTC), the Middle Corridor and the development of
logistics links between the Caspian region, the Persian Gulf and
global trade routes could form the infrastructure base for this
integration.
In this context, Iran is ready to provide Turkmenistan and
Central Asian countries with direct access to Persian Gulf ports
and Middle Eastern markets, he said.
“Modern investments in the region go beyond local national
markets. The main task is to form a single economic space
connecting the markets of Iran, Turkmenistan and the whole of
Central Asia. The foundation for such integration is the
International North-South Transport Corridor, the Middle Corridor,
as well as the active development of logistics links between the
Caspian region, the Persian Gulf and global trade routes,” Heydari
said.
He added that Iran is ready to provide Turkmenistan and Central
Asian countries with direct access to Persian Gulf ports and Middle
Eastern markets.
At the same time, Heydari described Turkmenistan as a strategic
bridge for Iran to the wider Eurasian economic space.
