Barter of Goods Suggested for Enhancing Tehran-Moscow Trade Tie
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – Tehran Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) and Russia’s Export Center signed a memorandum of understanding on concentration more on bilateral cooperation and boosting trade exchanges.
According to reports, in a ceremony held at Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (TCCIMA) and Russia’s Export Center inked the MoU to expand economic exchanges between Iran and Russia.
During the meeting, Iran proposed barter of goods between both states as a way for enhancing the current level of economic cooperation.
In the beginning of the ceremony, deputy head of TCCIMA on international affairs Mr. Hessamoddin Hallaj pointed to the historic relations of both countries as well as to some hurdles in way of enhancing trade exchanges. He said lack of enough acquaintance of both parties from each other’s capacities and of course lack of full acquaintance with the ruling regulations of both countries are of the major hurdles.
He added that the chamber is after restoring effective and direct relations with provincial chambers of commerce of Russia through signing the MoU.
Then Moscow’s commercial representative in Tehran, Rustam Zhiganshin, for his part, briefed the participants in the meeting of the activities of Russian Export Center, saying that the center is comprised of state-run companies which are in charge of analysis of the market, ratings and consultation.
He added that the center has 30 representatives in Russia and 10 offices abroad and one of them is in Tehran. He then called for full implementation of all paragraphs of the signed MoU with TCCMI.
Meanwhile Russian Export Center Pavel Bukhanov in Tehran said that signing the MoU is the first step in line with bringing together the private sectors of both states, adding that in the next phases, setting up a platform and common pattern for direct link between businessmen of both countries should be put on the agenda. He reiterated creating such a pattern is aimed at connecting companies directly and without any involvement of other party.
Then secretary general of TCCIMA Mr. Bahman Eshqi, for his part, pointed to the trade relation between both countries which does not accord with their capacities.
He noted that a study shows that between 1825 and 1917 for almost 90 years, Russia has been Iran’s first trade partner but during the Pahlavi Regime, their economic interactions had been restricted to only heavy industries.
Eshqi then pointed to the good grounds for cooperation and revival of the relation between Iran and Russia, saying that one of the issues which can help this relation to be revived is the expansion of transportation network, noting expansion of transportation is like an oil well which both sides can benefit.
He also called for expansion of trade interactions and termed exchange of trade via the Caspian Sea is another solution.
He added that barter of goods can be put on the agenda of both sides as a solution for expanding bilateral trade ties.
Eshqi also urged Russian banks to open accounts for Iranian companies in Russia or at least by those Russian banks which are not concerned about the U.S. sanctions.
Meanwhile Zhiganshin, for his part, said that in 2019, almost 50 percent of trade between Iran and Russia was done in Russian currency, rouble.
