A delegation led by Kazem Jalali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation, arrived in the Astrakhan region on a working visit. It consists of the heads of companies belonging to the National Cement Association of Iran.
Welcoming the guests in his office, Astrakhan region Governor Igor Babushkin noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a leading partner for the Astrakhan region, with which cooperation is successfully developing in various fields.
In the first nine months of this year, trade with Iran increased by 12%, exports increased by 8%, and imports increased by 26%. The nomenclature of mutual supplies includes cereals, wood, agricultural products, ceramics, chemical industry goods, and more.
The head of the region highly appreciated the recent first International Forum of Governors of the Caspian regions in Iran, to which he was a participant.
"I expressed gratitude to the governors of Gilan and Mazandaran provinces for the initiative to hold the forum, its good organization, and expressed confidence that it would be held on an ongoing basis in different regions of the Caspian Littoral countries," Igor Babushkin said.
The governor said that on the sidelines of the forum, he discussed with colleagues from Iran and other Caspian littoral countries various issues of economic cooperation, including attracting investments, developing transport logistics, as well as the topic of the Caspian ecology. In particular, an agreement was reached with the governors of Gilan and Mazandaran to update the road maps within the framework of cooperation agreements. The prospects of organizing visits of delegations of the Iranian provinces to the Astrakhan region, and, accordingly, reciprocal visits of Astrakhan delegations to Gilan and Mazandaran, were discussed.
Kazem Jalali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation, stressed that the past year has been fruitful in terms of developing relations between Iran and Russia. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Russia and Iran, signed in early 2025, has consolidated the special status of cooperation between the two countries. An important role is given to strengthening inter-regional ties.
"We are interested in developing comprehensive cooperation with the Astrakhan region, which we consider to be Iran's gateway to Russia," the Iranian diplomat said.
During the conversation, the parties discussed the prospects for the construction of a cement plant on the territory of the Astrakhan special economic zone "Lotos" with the participation of Iranian capital.
"We note the growing demand for cement, which is widely used in construction. Currently, there is no production of this material in the Astrakhan region. Every year, more than 500,000 tons of this building material from your country arrive in our region. Therefore, we are ready to discuss the proposed project," Igor Babushkin emphasized in his address to Kazem Jalali and the members of the delegation.
Mohammadreza Mohammadi, CEO of the Tamin Cement investment company and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Cement Association of Iran, joined the conversation. Mohammadreza Mohammadi said that 18 plants belonging to the Shasta Industrial Holding produce about 30% of all cement in Iran. 15% of the production volume is exported.
In turn, Mohammadreza Bazavi, CEO and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shahrud Cement Plant, spoke about the work of his company, which, being one of the largest in northeastern Iran, produces over 1 million 800 thousand tons of cement per year, exports its products to Russia, mainly to the Astrakhan region and The Republic of Dagestan.
"We plan to build a plant in your region with a capacity of 60,000 tons of cement per year, thereby meeting the needs for this building material in the Astrakhan market," he said.
Following the meeting, in the presence of Astrakhan Region Governor Igor Babushkin and Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Shahrud Cement Plant and Lotos Special Economic Zone JSC. The document was signed by Mohammadreza Bazawi, General Director, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shakhrudsky Cement Plant, and Alexander Kim, General Director of Lotos Special Economic Zone JSC.
At the end of the meeting, businessmen from Iran visited the enterprises of the special economic zone "Lotos" – the company "Hexa-Lotos" and the company "Rosa", as well as PJSC "Astrakhan Port", held business talks with the General Director of JSC "Special Economic Zone "Lotos" Alexander Kim.
Photo: Press Service and Information Department of the Astrakhan region Governor's Administration.