Coronavirus Slowed Down Iran Exports by 30%
IRAN NEWS ECONOMICDESK
TEHRAN – Member of Iran’s Business Women Association says Iran’s exports have been affected by coronavirus and exports have fallen by 30 percent.
Layla Fathi in an interview with ILNA said that increase of imports, while all countries are grappling with coronavirus, signals this message that how our neighboring countries and trade partners have toughened conditions for exports of Iranian goods and instead, how Iranians have eased the condition for their exports to the country. She further said it means Iran’s economic diplomacy and talks are in the lowest level.
On the effect of coronavirus on Iran’s exports to neighboring states, she said regarding the outbreak and spread of the virus, Iran has witnessed 30 percent drop in its exports in terms of value and 20 percent fall in terms of weight while at the same time, imports have grown noticeably.
She reiterated that in the current condition that the virus has involved all countries indicates that how neighboring countries have toughened the condition for Iran’s exports while Iranians have shown leniency for imports. She blamed the country’s economic diplomacy and reiterated that it is in its lowest level.
Fathi noted that the country should have taken some measures for such days and its embassies should have held consultations with the countries that are Iran’s major exports destinations.
She said that Iran could resolve the current condition by signing some joint health MoUs in order to avoid facing the current problems.
She stated that equipping sterilizing and disinfectant equipment and their deployment at border checkpoints would cost lower than losing the exports markets.
On the latest development in Iran’s exports markets, she stated that northern borders of Iraq are open but because of heavy traffic and slow commuting, the cost for exports has increased.
She also reiterated that borders with Afghanistan are also open but traffic is considerable and many truck drivers are not ready to cary any cargo to Afghan border destinations.
Fathi added that coronavirus is an international headache but trade of goods still continues and it means countries with interactions and talks have reached an international standard for trade in such a critical condition and Iranians should also have reached such agreements with the neighboring countries to avoid the current condition.
She reiterated that Iranians should have taken action and adopted solutions before the outbreak of the virus in the country and its neighboring states.
She also urged joint chambers of commerce and all commercial attaches of embassies to pursue this issue as soon as possible and sign joint MoUs with the target countries.
