TEHRAN (Iran News) –President of Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba (CC) met with Vice-Chairman of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA) and during the meeting both sides explored ways for broadening trade ties and both sides emphasized identifying capacities and opportunities for trade.

President of CC Mr. Antonio Luis Carricarte Corona while being accompanied by Ambassador of Cuba to Tehran  Mr. Alberto Gonzalez Casals met with Vice-Chairman of ICCIMA Mr. Hossein Salahvarzi and in the meeting both sides exchanged views for increasing the current level of bilateral trade.

In the meeting Mr. Corona said that Iran and Cuba should provide grounds for joint commercial activities of their private sectors and chambers of commerce, adding that they can create a link between the private sectors and for boosting cooperation can define some projects in order that Iranian companies can have continuous contact.

He then pointed to the fields of cooperation between Iran and Cuba and said that first priorities and needs in the field of economic cooperation of both countries should be determined, for example, Iran in the field of agriculture and agro products is good or Cuba has high capacities in the field of tourism that these capacities should be noticed.

Corona further said that they can provide the grounds for the launch of a trade center in Cuba for increasing economic and trade connections, adding that they should work on those products that countries have potentials in them for deepening and broadening bilateral cooperation.

He also called for focusing on trilateral relation between Iran, Cuba and countries in the region of Iran and Cuba. He added that they can invest on those products that they are able to return the capital very fast.

Corona further said that Cuba’s tourism industry is growing very fast as so far this year over 3m tourists have entered Cuba and this market is on the growth. He said that this year companies have imported $300m of goods and services to meet the demands of tourists and Cuba can import some part of its needs in this field from Iran and they have started talks with an Iranian company.

He added that they are interested to open a trade department on Iran in the CC for bringing closer the traders of the two countries, noting that the chambers of commerce can rush to help at the time of dispute and problem.

He then said that Iran and Cuba can start projects which are able to grow more like chicken or dairy products plant that Cuba is good at them, reiterating that Cuba wants to become a hub in the region and there is good opportunity for cooperation in this field.

He expressed hope that ICCIMA and Iranian traders would partake in an exhibition in Cuba which will be held on November 9.

Then Salahvarzi, for his part, pointed to the good and strong political relation of Iran and Cuba, adding that despite this good relation, their economic relation is not satisfactory. He then pointed to great capacities and capabilities for economic cooperation between the two states, admitting the long distance between the two countries has created a serious problem for bilateral trade.

He then pointed to the capacities for broadening bilateral trade and called for more cooperation in the fields of foodstuff, medicines, mines, Nano technology and tourism.

Salahvarzi then pointed to the capacities of Iranian technical and engineering services companies and said that these companies have good experiences in the field of infrastructure and house construction in Latin America and Venezuela.

He then pointed to the sanctions that Cuba has been struggling with them and said that Iran and Cuba can find innovative way for trade and barter can be one of them.

Then Ambassador of Cuba to Tehran Mr. Casals said that the first challenge for Iran-Cuba economic relation is lack of cognizance of businessmen of the two countries and chambers of commerce of both countries can play a good role in helping businessmen to know both countries and Iran’s private sector can partake in an exhibition in Havana this year.

He said that Iran’s private sector has good experiences and Cuba needs cooperation in joint projects.