Tehran, Yerevan Urged to Focus on Joint Investment
Tehran, Yerevan Urged to Focus on Joint Investment
Iran and Armenia explored the ways for boosting economic cooperation and both sides emphasized to cooperate on the joint investment.

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Tehran, Yerevan Urged to Focus on Joint Investment. Iran and Armenia explored the ways for boosting economic cooperation and both sides emphasized to cooperate on the joint investment.

Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholamhossein Shafei on Tuesday met visiting Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy Varos Simonyan where the both sides on boosting bilateral cooperation in the field of joint investment.

During the meeting, Shafei pointed to the amicable ties between Iran and Armenia and said this relation is in good level as the two countries enjoy a good and long co-existence. He went on to say that Armenia enjoys excellent economic growth in the Central Asian and Caucasus region and private sector in Armenia has developed with considerable face and this country’s economy has progressed fabulously in recent years.

Turning to the status and specifications of Armenian economy, Shafei said that economy in Armenia is based on free economy and this issue has caused the country to enjoy considerable economic growth.

Armenia has an influential presence in Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), he said, adding that Armenia is the only country in the Union that shares joint border with the Islamic Republic of Iran and therefore, economic relations with Armenia enjoy a unique opportunity.

Shafei noted that although Iran and Armenia have a close and long all-out relations but their economic relations have not progressed like their political ties and they should improve their economic relations along with their political ties.

Elsewhere in his remarks, chairman of ICCIMA pointed to the sanctions imposed against Iran and said that the volume of trade between Iran and Armenia will expand after sanctions imposed on Iran are lifted and consequently, trade and business relations between the two countries will be developed considerably.

Cooperating in the bartering method can be a proper strategy for overcoming oppressive U.S. sanctions, he added.

Shafei noted that there are various capacities for bilateral cooperation like in the mining sector, husbandry and agro sectors. He added that the both sides can work together in the copper and gold sectors as well as in the fields of textile, apparel, construction, technical and engineering sectors.

He reiterated that Armenian government’s policy of giving incentives for investment is considerable and it helps bilateral cooperation. He went on to say that the Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce is one of the most active chambers and it can help the grounds to be prepared for bilateral cooperation, adding that he welcomes expansion of economic cooperation with Armenia.

Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Economy, for his turn, said that Armenia attaches great importance to its relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in all fields and t its positive stand in the region and considers Iran a friendly country in bilateral cooperation.

Simonyan went on to say that Armenia has nowadays tried to identify and resolve the problems in way of cooperation, adding that before any cooperation, the infrastructures should be improved, adding that Armenia after gaining its independence joined the WTO although it was not so easy.

Armenia is the only country in EAEU which shares joint land border with the Islamic Republic of Iran in a way that Armenia can pave suitable ways for the Islamic Republic of Iran to get access to lucrative market of Eurasian Economic Union, he added.

He reiterated that Armenia have repeatedly said that it is ready to cooperate with Iran for this country’s arrival into the 200-million-people EAEU market.

He noted that likely the sanctions is the major hurdle in way of Iran-Armenia trade ties and by its removal, major part of woes in trade between the two countries will be resolved and they can develop their trade exchange.

He added that dispatch of trade delegation is on the agenda of Armenia’s Chamber of Commerce and the delegation will also confer on the cooperation in the field of economy.

Simonyan blasted the economic sanctions which makes competition unfair and Armenia loses its chance of competition for ties with its neighbors and it suffers.

Then Shafei said that bartering trade is the proper solution and way for overcoming the cruel sanctions.