TEHRAN (Iran News) –Deputy Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Hossein Selahvarzi in meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia Freddy Mamani Machaca reviewed some agreements between the two countries which are undecided and called for agreement on free and preferential trade.
Salahvarzi pointed to good political relation between the two countries and termed the trade tie between the two states unsatisfactory, adding that despite valuable agreements which have been signed between Tehran and La Paz some six years ago, the level of implementation of these agreements is undefendable. He admitted that if there is required will, then both sides can pursue trade relation in higher levels.
He noted that Iran and Bolivia can cooperate in fields of technical and engineering services, medicines, agro machineries and equipment, mines, construction materials and petrochemical products, adding that both countries unable to systemize their relations due to problems for transfer of money and banking transactions. He stated that some political consultation are needed to find economic solution and barter trade is one of them.
He pointed to the capacity of Bolivia in mining sector, noting that this field can be noticed in barter trade as the two countries can focus on tourism.
Then Bolivian official Mamani Machaca, for his part, said that the connection between the private sector is important for broadening trade ties, adding that both countries have problem in trade exchanges and banking transactions and due to unilateral decision of some countries, money has been frozen. He stated Cuba and Venezuela are also suffering from such problem and this condition is the outcome of actions of some Western countries.
He added that before departure for Tehran he was warned that he might be put on black list due to visit and ties with Iranian companies and this concern exists among Bolivian companies. He reiterated that therefore both countries need to have a certain financial mechanism for boosting trade.
