SARI. October 12. KAZINFORM Kazakhstan ambassador to Iran called for an increase in bilateral trade between the two countries, pointing out that plenty of business opportunities exist between Tehran and Astana. Nurbah Rustemov was on a visit to Sari, capital of Mazandaran Province, in north of the country. In a meeting between a delegation of Kazakh businessmen and Mazandaran province governor general, he said that Iranian investors can do commercial activities with maximum security in Kazakhstan. Rustemov added that the Kazakh embassy's doors are open to all Iranian merchants especially those from Mazandaran province. The ambassador noted that since 1993 some $40 billion has been invested by foreigners in his country, adding that Kazakhstan holds the second largest reserves of uranium, chrome, zinc and lead, and the third largest reserves of magnesium and the fourth in copper, and is among the top ten countries in coal, iron and gold deposits. He pointed out that Kazakhstan has the eleventh largest reserves of oil and natural gas and added that his country imports products mainly from Russia, China and Germany. Trade turnover between the Iran and Kazakhstan increased fivefold in the last six years from $400 million to over $2 billion in 2009. Iran imports grain, oil products and metals from Kazakhstan. Iran is also a partner in oil and gas projects including construction of a pipeline connecting Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran (Persian Gulf) which will give Astana access to the Asian markets. Kazakhstan has special interests in Iranian investments in mechanical engineering, infrastructure, transport and telecommunication projects, Kazinform refers to Tehran Times Economic Desk. See www.tehrantimes.com.