Iran-Turkey Borders to Reopen Very Soon
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – Head of Iran-Turkey Joint Chamber of Commerce Mehrdad Saadat Dehghan says Turkey will soon reopen its land border to Iran which will resolve problems for trade between both states.
Speaking to Eghtesadonline, Saadat Dehghan said two weeks after talks between officials of Iran and Turkey for reopening the land border, borders are still closed but the problem of Turkish trucks which were in Iran was solved.
On the reason for Turkey’s delay for reopening the borders, he said the Coronavirus is the main reason but since several Turkish ministries are involved in decision-making over reopening of the borders, it would take time.
He added that finally efforts of the joint chamber paid off and traders of both countries came out of the limbo.
Saadat Dehghan noted that private sectors of both countries are determined for reopening of the joint border to minimize their losses because of delay.
He also announced that Turkey has increased the tariff on import of watermelon, adding that it has been four-folded.
He said this decision has been taken while Iranian watermelon has been loaded in trucks and they are on way of reaching Turkey and consequently, exporters may suffer losses.
Saadat Dehghan noted that the chamber expected Turkey to announce its decision before loading of trucks because in this condition, export of watermelon to Turkey has no economic justification.
Turkey’s deputy trade minister and head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization last week and in a videoconference discussed ways to solve the problem and they solved some issues which were a good news for traders but the joint borders are still closed.
He added that representatives of all organizations’ bodies who are involved in the trade were present in the video-conference.
Meanwhile head of Iran-Turkey Economic and Trade House said Turkey has witnessed 99 percent drop in hosting Iranian tourists while the country earns significant share of its revenues through its tourism.
Seyed Jalal Ebrahimi noted that the outbreak of Coronavirus has seriously affected trade between both countries especially in tourism and airliners.
