KAZAN, October 27. /TASS/. Governor of Iran's Gilan Province Arsalan Zare called on Tatarstan to boost trade and invited the republic's business to work at the Anzali free economic zone, he said at a meeting with the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, which took place via videoconference.

"Anzali free [economic] zone is the only free zone on the Caspian coast. Therefore, we need to increase our trade turnover and use the advantages of this zone. We want to invite companies from Tatarstan for investment, for production in this zone," said the governor.

He noted that Gilan is located in a beautiful place, which allows increasing tourism cooperation. According to him, Gilan province has held exhibitions of Iranian goods in some regions of Russia several times. "Now the administration of Gilan province can, with the help of the private sector, hold such an exhibition in the city of Kazan. We can also help you to hold such an exhibition in the Anzali free trade zone or the city of Rasht," he added.

Minnikhanov noted that the parties will be of interest to each other in many fields. Among them are trade and economic delegations, exhibitions, exports, imports, halal products - Tatarstan is interested in all this, he added. According to Minnikhanov, before the coronavirus pandemic, there were direct flights between Tehran and Kazan. The head of the Russian region said he ws hopeful that air traffic would be restored in the near future.

"I really hope that when everything settles down with the coronavirus, our delegation with me as its head will visit your province. Of course, I hope that you will become our welcome guest," Minnikhanov said.

A Memorandum on trade cooperation has been in effect between the governments of Tatarstan and Iran since 1996. The Consulate General of Iran has been operating in Kazan since 2017. Kazan and Tabriz (East Azerbaijan province) are twin cities. The companies from the republic, including Kamaz and Tatneft, have implemented various projects in Iran over the years.