Gov’t Prioritizes Facilitating International Trade in 14th Administration

TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking at a meeting with economic stakeholders in West Azerbaijan province, Minister Seyed Mohammad Atabak highlighted the government’s new approach. “The 14th administration has prioritized operationalizing international trade agreements,” he said, underscoring the need to capitalize on the province’s geographical advantages.

Atabak called for the resolution of customs-related issues and improvements in the process of issuing business licenses, arguing that the border advantages of West Azerbaijan have not been fully utilized.

He also pointed to the province’s limited contribution to industrial employment, revealing that there are over 2,400 incomplete industrial projects in West Azerbaijan. “These dormant projects are lowering the province’s value-added output,” he warned.

Referring to West Azerbaijan’s unique geopolitical position, bordering three countries, Atabak emphasized the need to boost the province’s trade share and ensure smoother commerce operations. He also noted that border service systems have recently been reactivated to support this effort. He further stressed the importance of upgrading the region’s road infrastructure.

In the same meeting, Qasem Karimi, head of the Urmia Chamber of Commerce, called for increased provincial authority to streamline industrial processes and address critical barriers faced by local businesses.

Karimi emphasized the need to empower the provincial directorate of the Industry Ministry with greater decision-making powers regarding small and medium-sized enterprises. He also criticized the bureaucratic hurdles faced by industrial units seeking machinery upgrades, noting their direct impact on competitiveness and productivity.

To enhance private-sector collaboration with industrial towns, Karimi proposed that a chamber representative be included in the executive boards of industrial parks.

He further urged the government to allow exporters to fulfill their foreign exchange obligations through local currency settlements by the end of the Iranian calendar year 1402 (March 2024). Karimi also warned about the rise of “single-use” trade licenses and stressed the need for stricter oversight and revised regulations.

Karimi drew attention to the need for improved commercial diplomacy, noting that Turkey has over 250 trade attachés while Iran only maintains 25 active ones. He called for strengthening this network and fostering direct interaction with the private sector.

He also urged large industrial firms to move their operational accounts from Tehran to local bank branches in West Azerbaijan to boost the region’s liquidity and lending capacity. Karimi recommended installment plans for mining royalties to support continued operations in the sector.