TEHRAN (Iran News) – Head of Tabriz Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture says the amount of trade volume between Iran and Turkey is currently around $5b which shows a slight growth comparing to last year but it is far beyond 2016 and 2017 after Iran signed the JCPOA.
Speaking to ILNA, Younes Zhaeleh talked about the latest trade condition of Iran and Turkey and said the amount of the trade exchange between the two countries this year has slightly grown comparing to last year but it is still far from the volume which was registered in 2016 and 2017. He went on to say that after the JCPOA and in 2016 and 2017 the bilateral trade was around $7b but this year it is around $5b which shows 2b decline but this year’s trade has been better han last year. He noted although presidents of the two states have set a 30-billion-dollar target for bilateral trade the volume has not grown.
Zhaeleh went on to say that both countries should reconsider in some of their economic policies. He said Turkey buys oil, gas and petrochemicals from Iran and due to some policies in supporting the domestic production Iran stops imports with the preferential tariffs and this issue should be reconsidered.
He said Iran and Turkey for 400 years have been friends and there has been no war between the two countries and there has also been no major dispute between them although the Caucasus issues created some problems but currently there is no problem and trade and travel between the two countries are active.
On construction of a dam by Turkey which will affect both Iran and Iraq, he said Turkey has constructed Ilisu Dam on Tigris River on its own soil and definitely will affect the Tigris River in Iraq and Iran, and therefore they have to pay water right to both countries and probably it will not affect Iran too much.
Zhaeleh noted that Iran and Turkey have many common interests, and Iran can sell its gas to Turkey and it also can sell its gas to Europe via Turkey and in return Turkey can get transit right and both countries benefit the deal.
He went on to say that Turkey also can sell its products to Afghanistan, Pakistan and China via Iran and therefore both countries need to reconsider their trade behaviors in order to boost their economic relations. The two states enjoy many cultural and ethnical commonalities and should take advantage of it, he added.
