TEHRAN (Iran News) – Trade and investment capacities of Sweden were reviewed in a virtual meeting with the presence of Deputy Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) for International Affairs Mohammad-Reza Karbasi and Head of Iran Sweden Chamber of Commerce Mr. Abdolreza Rezaie as well as representatives of chambers and economic activists and it was decided Iran and Sweden focus on boosting ties in the field of technical and engineering services.

Addressing the meeting, Karbasi said that Iran and Sweden can have high-level cooperation with each other in the field of engineering and technical services, adding that Sweden is a country that is in a high position in the world in terms of progress in types of services and equipment, and by the way, Iran has good experience and considerable capability in the field of technical and engineering services.

He went on to say that Sweden is one of the most developed countries in the world and it has always had sensitive and close economic relation with Iran, adding that in the past years, Swedish companies have opened offices in Iran although in the past two years and after the reimposition of sanctions, those companies decided to leave Iran market but some of them have remained committed and continued their cooperation with fits and starts.

Karbasi added that the foreign trade volume of Sweden was over $320b in 2019 while Sweden’s trade volume with Iran has declined from $500m in 2019 to $70m in 2019. He expressed hope that the country would see an increase in economic cooperation with Sweden with the increase in economic cooperation and existing capacity, and with the efforts of the joint chamber of commerce as well as a change in Sweden’s approach regarding cooperation.

He hailed the efforts of the Iran Sweden Chamber of Commerce for its efforts which topped it among the joint chambers in the country.

Then Rezaei briefed the participants on the economic properties of Sweden and the country’s mentality regarding the economic activities. He said that despite having huge natural resources, Sweden has never resorted to selling raw material and avoided it, adding that the production of goods is several times more than its imports and people try to use home-made products especially in the field of agro products.

He also said trade with the EU accounts for 70 percent of Sweden’s total foreign trade, and Norway, Germany, the U.S., and Finland are the major trade partners of Sweden, and the Netherlands, France, and the UK are also among the other trade partners of this country, noting that among the Asian countries, China tops the list of Sweden’s trade partners.

Rezaie went on to say that most of Iran’s exports to Sweden are types of raw materials of course dried-fruits and foodstuff are also among Iran’s exports. He noted that some Iranian goods are exported to Sweden via London and Iranian pistachio and carpet are provided via the Hamburg market. He reiterated that Iran’s imports from Sweden are capital commodities like packing, telecommunications, mining equipment as well as technical know-how.