Iran, Russia Seek Improving Trade Via Samara and Saratov Channels
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – In a specialized webinar on food industries and agro products of Iran and Russia which was held by Tehran Chamber of Commerce, economic activists of both countries exchanged views for developing trade relations virtually, and officials of both parties during the webinar vowed to take measures to ease bilateral trade.
According to reports, Tehran Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with Chambers of Commerce of Samara and Saratov regions of Russia as well as the commercial section of Russian Embassy in Tehran held this specialized webinar on trade of agro products and food industries of Iran and Russia.
Over 80 representatives of commercial and production companies of Iran and Samara and Saratov regions participated and they held direct talks for assessing the opportunities for common cooperation after officials of the chambers briefed the participants of the goals behind the webinar.
Addressing the webinar, Deputy Head of International Affairs of Tehran Chamber of Commerce Mr. Hesamuddin Hallaj said that despite geographical proximity and membership of Iran and Russia in Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the trade volume of both countries is unacceptable, adding that Tehran Chamber of Commerce is trying, in cooperation and interaction with Russia’s Chamber of Commerce and related organizations with Russia’s foreign trade, to find openings for trade cooperation between private sector enterprises of both countries in trade sector.
He then pointed to the agreement between Tehran Chamber of Commerce and Russia Export Center which was signed early this year in Tehran and noted that this cooperation will have significant role in identification of economic capacities in both states and getting acquainted with economic enterprises and specialized associations.
Hallaj further said almost 80 percent of trade between Iran and Russia in 2019 was in the fields of agro products and foodstuff, adding for this reason this webinar was held especially on these fields and Tehran Chamber of Commerce is trying to hold the similar webinars on specialized fields in 2021.
Meanwhile Russian Embassy’s Trade Representation in Iran, Rustam Ziganshin, said Samara and Saratov regions can be two most active regions with high potentials for cooperation with Iran market.
He also announced the launch of Iran-Russia Trade Club for restoring economic relations between enterprises in both countries and removing the hurdles in way of businesses by both sides through talks with the state and private sectors officials of both countries.
On the Coronavirus pandemic and restrictions of countries for issuing visas, Ziganshin said currently Russia’s Coronavirus Headquarters issues visas, and Iranian companies can get Russian visas from the embassy by bringing introduction letter from Tehran Chamber of Commerce.
He also announced that the representative of Russian Agriculture Ministry will visit Tehran next year as this representative will start its work at the commercial section of Russian Embassy in Tehran to help Iranian enterprises to enter Russia’s market as well consulting and supporting Russian companies in Iran market.
Gorshenin Andrey, head of department on foreign trade relations in Samara Region Economy Ministry, also said that Iran market is a priority for the region and pointed that the economic relations of Iran and Russia is growing.
He said that diversity in exports of Samara Region to Iran is increasing and currently, grain, oil seeds, flour and latex are exported from Samara to Iran and Samara traders buy fruits and vegetables, cement and glass from Iran.
He also called for improving the capabilities and logistics between both states that some meetings are to be held on this issue in upcoming months.
Meanwhile Head of Samara Region Chamber of Commerce Valery Fomichev, addressing the webinar, said that holding such events will help companies in both countries to get familiar with the capacities in both states.
He also announced that soon Samara is to launch chambers of commerce with neighboring countries, adding that with the launch of Iran-Samara Region joint chamber, it is expected the trend for developing bilateral trade ties to accelerate more.
Head of Saratov Region Chamber of Commerce Mr. Alexei Antonov also pointed to the beginning of economic cooperation of the region with Iran in the past three years and signing a MoU on cooperation, and announced readiness of the chamber for setting up a joint chamber between Saratov and Iran. He also said that Volga waterway is ready for transportation of goods between Iran and Russia.
