Tehran, Yerevan Mull Bolstering Trade Cooperation

IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Chairman of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran Hamid Zadboum in a videoconference conferred with Armenia’s deputy Finance minister over expanding trade ties.

During the videoconference, Zadboom expressed hope that both countries by pursuing the agreements would expand cooperation on customs affairs, trade and regional issues.

In the meeting, both sides called for forming a workgroup on industry, mine and trade for reaching a mechanism for bartering goods between Iran and Armenia.

Zadboum said Iran is to join Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) free trade this year and Armenia as the only Eurasian Union state which has border with Iran and it is the only gateway for Iran to have access to the Eurasia through four other countries, and as the result, Iran and Armenia can take advantage of this opportunity.

On how to carry out bartering goods and preparing the list of goods for bartering, the Iranian official said that the primary list of goods has been sent to the Armenian side and in the future, the list will be completed based on the demands of both sides.

Meanwhile in the meeting, both sides emphasized formation of a workgroup on industry, mine and trade to work on several issues like border trade, transit of trucks as well as facilitating the commute of trucks and drivers.

Armenian Deputy Economy Minister Avak Avanesian, for his part, said that Armenian economy ministry will follow the issues stipulated in the meeting for forming the workgroup, adding that he urges all Armenian private companies to join the workgroup.

On the bartering goods, he said both sides can start bartering goods with the list proposed by the Iranian side and in the future, Armenia can complete the list based on its or other Eurasian states’ needs.

He further said both sides need to have weekly meetings in order to reach a mechanism for implementing the bartering agreement electronically.

Avanesian also called for a meeting in upcoming days on resolving the transportation woes in the borders which was welcomed by Zadboum.

Armenian Ambassador to Tehran Artashes Toumanian who was also present in the videoconference pointed to the videoconference held between presidents of both countries last month and called for finalizing the mechanism for bartering goods or bartering goods needed by Iran in exchange for Armenia’s gas debts.