IKCO Starts Exporting Police Cars to Turkmenistan
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran Khodro Industrial Group has started to export police cars to Turkmenistan with the aim of increasing its share in the car market of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
In an address to the opening ceremony of police cars export to Turkmenistan, IKCO Deputy CEO for Export and International Affairs, Saeed Tafazzoli said, "The export is going on in line with the general policy of Iran’s resistance economy," adding that the export to Turkmenistan is part of IKCO’s plan to increase its share in the region’s market through CIS Customs Union. “To this end, IKCO will export more cars to Turkmenistan and Belarus and will set up new sites in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan,” he added. Tafazzoli went on saying that based on an agreement signed between two sides; IKCO will export 200 police cars to Turkmenistan, adding, if approved by the Turkmen side, IKCO will continue to supply the country’s police fleet in future. He also stated that the laden-on-board cars have already been approved by the Turkmen side in terms of technical features. “Turkmenistan is a CIS member and Iran views the country as an export gate to the regional countries,” he said. Outlining IKCO’s plans for 2016, Tafazzoli said, 30 percent of IKCO export -between 6 to 9 thousand cars - would be shipped to CIS. He noted that IKCO will also export some of its products to Iraq including trucks and CKD cars. “Export to Tunisia and reviving Venezuela site are among other plans of IKCO for 2016,” he said, adding that IKCO is set to export a total of 30,000 cars by 2016, March 20. For his part, the CEO of IKCO’s site in Ashgabat, Yaghmour Gholizadeh said Japan and South Korea have the largest share in Turkmenistan’s market, adding IKCO’s vehicles with their high quality and affordable price can attract the attentions of the Turkmen and take a larger share in the CIS market in the near future. He went on saying that IKCO and Turkmenistan have already begun negotiations on the export of 1,200 IKCO Samand sedans adding an agreement on the export would be signed soon. Touching upon IKCO’s plan to increase its share in Turkmenistan, he noted that IKCO attaches great importance to the country. “With supplying Turkmen police fleet accomplished, IKCO is intended to export Samand vehicles to the country as well,” he said. Gholizadeh concluded that entering Russia’s market is the next goal of IKCO. Source:Farsnews