TEHRAN (Iran News) – Alireza Peyman-Pak, Head of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) said that Iran’s recent trade conference in Moscow was successful and coordination was made with Moscow to ensure food security.

“We predict that the Ukraine conflict will last and that sanctions will continue to be imposed on Russia. Therefore, the issue of food security, supply of oil, wheat and barley was prioritized, and in this regard, a long-term agreement for the supply of these items was put on the agenda, and necessary measures have been taken in coordination with Russia in this regard,” Alireza Peyman-Pak told reporters.

The TOPI head also pointed to a recent Moscow-hosted trade conference between Iran and Russia and said, “The visit of the Iranian delegation to Russia is considered successful. About 40 meetings were held during this event and free trade agreements were signed with 6 Eurasian member states.”

He added, “After the agreement with the Russian side, the customs of the strategic port of Makhachkala was reopened, which will have significant benefits for the exports to Russia.”

The head of the Trade Development Organization also noted that the country’s exports grew by $ 13 billion last year, adding, “We are trying to control fluctuations in the export sector so that the presence in the target markets would be long-term.”

He said Iran will soon enter into a similar agreement with the Azerbaijan republic too.

Peyman-Pak noted that the bulk of export incentives go to knowledge-based firms, noting that good agreements have been made with Russia, Oman and Indonesia for the purpose of trade development of these companies.

He said Iran must shift away from selling raw material alone.

Peyman-Pak noted that Iran’s exports grew by $13 billion last year, saying the country is trying to control export fluctuations so that it will have a long-term presence in target markets.

The surge in Iran’s trade with foreign nations comes at a time when the Islamic republic is under the harshest unilateral sanctions by the U.S. Iran oil exports have also grown in recent months and the administration of President Ebrahim Raisi says revenues from crude sales are returning to the country despite restrictions on the Iranian banking system.

Meanwhile Iranian ambassador to Russia stressed that the two countries intend to expand cooperation in the field of energy.

On Monday, the Iranian ambassador to Russia visited the booth of Iran’s National Petrochemical Company and talked with the heads of large Iranian holdings present at the exhibition.

The exhibition, which is held in the field of equipment and technology in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, is expected to have about 20,000 visitors.

On the sidelines of the 21st Russian Oil and Gas Exhibition, the Iranian Ambassador to Russia, referring to the good and beneficial relations between the two countries said: “Iran and Russia, with their rich oil and gas reserves, have a good opportunity to develop cooperation in this sector.”

Jalali said that the presence of Morteza Shah Mirzaei, Deputy Minister of Oil and CEO of Iran’s Petrochemicacompanyl, along with a number of capable Iranian petrochemical holdings in the exhibition, expresses Iran’s will to develop cooperation in this field.

Referring to the significant production capacity of petrochemical products in Iran, Shah Mirzaei mentioned the country’s oil and gas reserves as the backbone of this industry and invited the companies present at the exhibition to invest in Iranian projects.

Iranian Deputy Minister of Oil also invited companies to attend the two exhibition events of Iran Plast and the Oil Exhibition.