TEHRAN (Iran News) – Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Hossein Salahvarzi in meeting with Ambassador of Ivory Coast to Tehran Mr. Ouattara Tamakolo called for taking executive steps for broadening trade between Iran and Ivory Coast.
Both sides in the meeting explored ways for increasing the level of trade cooperation between the two countries.
In the meeting Tamakolo for his part felicitated Salahvarzi for being elected as the head of the ICCIMA and expressed hope during the leadership of Salahvarzi in the chamber the cooperation between the chambers of commerce of both countries would enhance and it helps increase in the level of bilateral trade because Iran and Ivory Coast have a large number of capacities for cooperation but the level of trade cooperation between the two countries do not match these capacities.
He then pointed to his visits to the provinces of Iran and talked with governors and heads of chambers of commerce of the provinces to get acquainted with the trade capacities of the provinces and in return presenting economic potentials of Ivory Coast. He further said that although the launch of the trade office of Iran in city of Abidjan and grant of credit line to businessmen of both states were of the positive actions for enhancing the level of bilateral cooperation, there are still serious problems to this end.
Tamakolo further said that lack of shipping lines from Bandar Abbas to Abidjan and direct flights between the two countries has led to the decline in the trade exchange between Iran and Ivory Coast.
He said that Ivory Coast economy is agriculture-centered and this country in the field of producing cocoa and cotton and it is among the top countries in those fields, adding that until 2011, exhibition on Iranian products was held in Ivory Coast and reiterated that he wants Iran to resume holding of such an exhibition with diverse products. He noted that in October 2024 a specialized exhibition on Iranian products will be held in Ivory Coast, adding that by the way this October an international exhibition on agriculture will be held in his country and invited Iranian activists in agro sector to take part in this event.
Tamakolo then pointed to the strategic location of Ivory Coast along with 8 other countries with political and economic stability has a joint currency and in covers 82m people. He noted that Iranian businessmen can via Ivory Coast to have access to this big market and currently Iranian products enter Ivory Coast market via the third party country like Turkey and the question is why these products should not directly enter the market by Iranian companies.
Then Salahvarzi, for his point, pointed to the transport and banking obstacles in way of trade between Iran and Ivory Coast and emphasized that both countries should very fast take executive steps for more mobility in the bilateral trade like activities in the field of exporting technical and engineering services.
He also welcomed efforts of Tamakolo for getting acquainted with the capacities of provinces, adding that the chamber and government have a new round of activities on the agenda to broaden ties with Africa and especially Ivory Coast and consider it important.
Salahvarzi emphasized that despite some problems like transport and banking exchanges, both countries should very fast take executive steps for more mobility in bilateral trade. He added that both countries can cooperate in the field of technical and engineering services and construction of the infrastructures like road construction, housing, developing power plant, refinery and launch of gas stations. He stated that both countries can also have good cooperation in the field of medicine production, medical equipment, petrochemical products and food products packing.
He then said that the chamber will encourage Iranian companies to have active presence in the 2023 and 2024 exhibitions in Ivory Coast and will support them financially. He also pointed to the efforts of the ICCIMA for holding a joint video conference with chamber of commerce of Ivory Coast for presenting capacities of both countries and exchange of primary information between the private sectors of both countries and said he invites head of chamber of commerce of Ivory Coast and his trade delegation to visit Tehran and the ICCIMA is also interested in sending a trade delegation to Ivory Coast.
