TEHRAN (Iran News) – Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholam-Hossein Shafei in meeting with visiting President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Mian Nuaman Kabir said that the private sector of Pakistan welcomes restoring barter trade with Iran and it seeks to use barter trade or other mechanisms and ways for strengthening relations with Iran.
In the meeting both sides exchanged views and information for strengthening the trade ties between the two countries and for preparing a package which can help the barter trade between the two states.
In the meeting, Shafei referred to the city of Lahore which is one of the biggest industrial cities of Pakistan, adding that unfortunately despite neighborhood and economic capacities of the two countries, the current trade ties of Iran and Pakistan is not satisfactory.
He then pointed to Iran’s trade policies and prioritizing neighbor states for increasing its international trade volume and the place of Pakistan in this relation is special.
Shafei added that study on the trade tariff between Iran and Pakistan is very necessary, adding that due to lack of such a mechanism between Iran and Pakistan, both countries are engaged in unofficial trade. He reiterated that by the way it is necessary with the pressure of the private sectors of Iran and Pakistan, the free trade between them is finalized and comes into effect.
He referred to Iran’s agro products and its complementary products, saying that agriculture is a good ground for restoring barter system and due to being complementary in the field of the agro products of Iran and Pakistan this system can be defined.
Shafei also called for expansion of direct flights between Iran and Pakistan is the issue which should be taken into consideration of officials of both states. He reiterated that by the way it is necessary other fields like logistics and railways to be included in the developmental projects of both states.
He then pointed to the barter of goods like corn, wheat and rice which are produced in Pakistan and are imported by Iran. He said that the private sectors can pave the ground for bartering and therefore it is necessary the exchange of information between the chambers of both countries and ultimately their proposed package is handed over to their governments.
He proposed using the practical pattern in barter of Pakistan’s tangerine with Iran’s apple and kiwi for expanding it to other products and goods.
He also pointed to the progress of Iran in the knowledge-based industries that both countries can cooperate in this field.
Then Nauman Kabir, for his part, pointed to the 100-year life of LCCI and talked about attention of the chamber to neighbors for broadening international ties. He added that due cooperation between the two countries, the issue of barter has progressed well and its implementation is on the verge of being finalized. He admitted that despite developing barter trade, problems still remain that the private sector is able to resolve them. He added that Pakistani economic activists seek to find other ways for trade with Iran even if the barter trade is not finalized.
He termed transportation an important issue and stipulated that in this regard all existing capacities should be used and the ground for diverse transportation for trade between the two countries should be paved.
Nauman said he believes the private sectors can take more actions than governments in line with strengthening the level of joint cooperation.
