Tehran, Dhaka Call for Joint Investments
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – Chairman of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Mr. Gholam-Hossein Shafei and Bangladesh Ambassador to Tehran Gousal Azam Sarker met on Saturday and during the meeting both sides called for boosting cooperation and joint investment between both states.
During the meeting, Shafei underscored joint investment and restoration of sustainable economic relations between Iran and Bangladesh.
He also pointed to the cruel U.S. unilateral sanctions against Iran, adding that barter trade is one of the ways against the effects of the sanctions.
He also added that D8 meeting was a good opportunity for Iran and Bangladesh to discuss ways for developing economic ties but it was postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. He added that the pandemic has had negative impact on all trades and economies worldwide, reiterating that the trade volume between Iran and Bangladesh is not acceptable at all.
Shafei added that both countries enjoy good capacities for cooperation which have been remained negligent so far. He further said to solve the banking transfer, both countries can use barter trade in their economic relation.
He said rice, tea and kenaf which are produced in Bangladesh are of better quality comparing to other countries around and they have good markets in Iran and they can be bartered with some Iranian goods which are welcomed in Bangladesh.
He also criticized the seven-year delay for holding Iran-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission, expressing hope that holding the meeting would be a new chapter in developing bilateral ties.
Meanwhile Bangladesh Ambassador Mr. Sarker, for his part, emphasized the significance of joint investments and joint activities between economic activities of both states, reiterating that through investment they can concentrate on new products and enter new markets and it will lead to transfer of technology and workforce.
He also pointed to some incentives that Bangladesh government is offering for foreign investments, adding that tax exemption, license for imports of raw material without paying tax and low cost of production are of the advantages for foreign investment in Bangladesh. Sarker noted due to big population, Bangladesh is a good market for consumption of the produced goods.
He said currently some 300 foreign companies are active in Bangladesh. He also called barter trade as a good opportunity for both states, noting that Iran and Bangladesh can cooperate in fields like ship-building, pharmaceuticals, ceramic, IT, natural products like cement.
