Mechanism for Transfer of Forex Between Iran, Oman Being Operationalized
Mechanism for Transfer of Forex Between Iran, Oman Being Operationalized
Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman Mr.  Saleh bin Said Masan in meeting with Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholam-Hossein Shafei announced talks between central banks of both countries for finding ways for transfer of forex and financial transactions.

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman Mr.  Saleh bin Said Masan in meeting with Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholam-Hossein Shafei announced talks between central banks of both countries for finding ways for transfer of forex and financial transactions.

Said Masan who is leading a trade delegation to Tehran in meeting with Shafei exchanged views for removing hurdles in way of trade between Iran and Oman and finding ways for enhancing trade exchanges between the two states.

He admitted that the trade relation between Iran and Oman is not in the level of their political relation, adding that both sides try to increase their trade relation at least to 50% of their political relation. He acknowledged there are some challenges in way of trade relation between Iran and Oman, adding that despite efforts of both sides, these challenges still exist like problem in transfer of money between the two states and central banks of both countries have raised some initiatives to overcome these challenges.

Pointing to signing MoU on cooperation in the trade field and easing customs affairs, Said Masan said that some executive and technical groups of both countries have been formed to operationalize these agreements and it has been decided the results of studies of these groups to be presented in the joint commission of both countries in upcoming months.

He added that Oman government emphasizes joint investment between the two countries especially by private investors of Iran and Oman and reiterated that there is readiness in all levels for political, economic and public support from these investments and Oman is ready to hand over its industrial zones to Iranian companies and offer any required facilities for them.

Said Masan then pointed to lack of enough trust from Iranian traders for investment in Oman, adding that Oman is ready to do anything to create this trust, adding that Muscat welcomes any joint investment in the field of medicines and production. He went on to say that Oman is ready to provide required conditions for Iranian traders to set up medicine production line in Oman and actually his country is ready for implementation of any joint agreement.

He stated that health tourism attracts many Omanis to Iran annually, adding that despite the high trust of Omanis to Iranian doctors, this issue needs more coordination to move forward properly for both sides.

He then pointed to the inauguration of new flights between big cities of Iran and Muscat and announced readiness of Oman for launching direct flight between Muscat and Isfahan.

Meanwhile Head of ICCIMA Mr. Shafei, for his part, said that despite the existing restrictions, the trend of trade between both country is positive, adding that although this year the trade exchange between Iran and Oman is growing by 50% and has reached $1.5b, at the same time despite the capacities for trade cooperation between the two countries, the current trade volume is not satisfactory.

He went on to say that due to favorable geographical location of Oman and economic advantages of trade between the two states, both countries can export their products to other countries especially to African states via Oman and both sides will benefit of it.

Shafei noted that there are high capacities for joint investment in tourism industry especially in health tourism for cooperation between the two states. He reiterated that ICCIMA in collaboration with Oman Chamber of Commerce have done great efforts for opening banking accounts for investment of Iranian traders in Oman and if these efforts bear fruit, it will play a key role in enhancing trade cooperation between Iran and Oman.

He also supported exchange of trade delegations between the two countries for knowing trade capacities of both countries, reiterating that exchange of information is important for trade delegations.