Switzerland to Launch Financial Mechanism for Humanitarian Trade
Switzerland to Launch Financial Mechanism for Humanitarian Trade
Switzerland Ambassador to Tehran Mr. Markus Leitner says his country is to launch a new financial mechanism for exchange of humanitarian goods with Iran.

Switzerland to Launch Financial Mechanism for Humanitarian Trade With Iran

IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

Switzerland Ambassador to Tehran Mr. Markus Leitner says his country is to launch a new financial mechanism for exchange of humanitarian goods with Iran.

Speaking at the IranGran 2019 Conference in Tehran, Mr. Leitner said that the new financial mechanism is not to rival Europe’s mechanism “INSTEX” and in case it starts its work, it will function differently comparing to the INSTEX.

He noted that the date for operationalization of the new mechanism has not been fixed yet. He added that the mechanism would help exchange of humanitarian goods like medicines, medical equipment and food products.

Leitner reiterated that this mechanism is not a new invention and there has been  something like it even before the sanctions and it has been active in facilitating the ground for transfer of money and exchange of humanitarian goods to Iran, adding that Swiss government is currently reviewing it for implementation.

He then pointed to some statistics about trade between Iran and Switzerland in agro sector, adding that statistics show that Iran has provided almost 15 percent of its agro and food needs from Switzerland.

He went on to say that most of Swiss agro and food products are not cultivated in Switzerland and they are produced through processing industry and Switzerland is one of the top countries in processing industry.

He claimed that both kinds of watermelon which are produced in Iran is kind of watermelon which is produced in Switzerland.

Leitner went on to say that one in eight Iranian newborns uses Swiss food and medicine products.

He also called the Iran Gran Conference as a step forward for boosting cooperation between Iranian and Swiss companies in field of grain.

Meanwhile President of Tehran Chamber of Commerce Mr. Masoud Khansari said that sanctions can turn into economic opportunity for the country and the country can come out of sanctions through identifying all domestic capacities and expansion of interactions and trade with neighboring states.

He also criticized Europe for its failure in launching the INSTEX, adding that Iran cannot tie its economy to Europe while there are several other opportunities and markets available.

He termed Iran’s neighboring states as trade partners, adding that he believes Iran’s economy can move ahead in a win-win interaction with neighboring states as well as countries like China, Russia and India. He noted that the country can expand its non-oil exports and goods to those countries and in return it imports its necessary goods.