TEHRAN (Iran News) –Bulgaria Embassy’s Counsellor on Economic Affairs Stoil Zlatarski in meeting with the caretaker of the international affairs of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Ms. Niloofar Asadi explored ways for broadening trade between the two states and reiterated that signing agreement on rail cooperation can be a solution for bilateral trade.
Zlatarski met Asadi at Iran Chamber of Commerce while Head of Iran-Bulgaria Joint Commercial Committee and Head of Europe desk of ICCIMA were present.
In the meeting, Ms. Asadi said that talks with embassies and chambers of commerce of target countries for broadening economic cooperation is on the agenda of the ICCIMA and Bulgaria is one of the target countries.
She added that despite sanctions and existing problems, the relation between Tehran and Sofia has enjoyed an upward growth and in the past two years and with cooperation of the Iran-Bulgaria Joint Economic Committee and the foreign ministry, several trade delegations have been exchanged between the two states.
She noted that ICCIMA believes exchange of delegation has a brilliant role in broadening bilateral relation between Iran and Bulgaria.
Asadi further said that the 20th joint economic commission of Iran and Bulgaria will be held in Tehran this year and called on Bulgaria’s chamber of commerce to send a delegation to Tehran and in return ICCIMA can hold a webinar in collaboration with Bulgaria’s Chamber of Commerce for acquaintance of Iranian traders and companies with existing trade potentials in both countries.
She also pointed to the problems of visas and transit and also transportation in Europe and said that signing agreements on rail cooperation between the two states will be a solution for bilateral trade and in between, the role of chambers of commerce of both countries as well as the joint committee is very bold.
She termed agriculture, tourism, energy and modern irrigation methods as the prioritized fields for broadening bilateral relation.
Asadi also urged Bulgaria’s Embassy to accept the recommendation letters of ICCIMA for easing visa process for traders.
Then Zlatarski, for his part, said that last year the trade exchange between the two countries grew by 40% and there are suitable potentials for multiplying the trade volume between the two states.
He added that he was preset in the meeting for coordinating the 20th joint economic commission but due to changes of governments there was no time for reviewing the outcome of the meetings and expressed hope in the upcoming weeks and with deployment of the new government in Bulgaria it can have required readiness for holding the joint commission.
He added that in case Bulgarian companies apply for talks with their Iranian counterpart, the embassy will inform the ICCIMA and connect the both sides together for preparing the ground for travel and cooperation.
Zlatarski also announced readiness of Bulgaria for pursuing agreements on rail cooperation between the two countries and holding the 20th joint commission.
Reacting to Ms. Asadi’s proposal for introducing reputed and trustable parties by chambers of commerce for accelerating trade exchanges, the Bulgarian diplomat welcomed it and said that he as the representative of Bulgaria’s Chamber of Commerce announces the readiness for cooperation in this regard.
Meanwhile in the meeting Iranian side announced readiness of Iranian startups and knowledge-based companies for activities in Bulgaria.
The 19th joint summit of economic cooperation between Iran and Bulgaria was held in 2018. The 20th round of this summit was scheduled to be held in 2022 but it was postponed due to the domestic developments in Bulgaria.
