TEHRAN (Iran News) – Chambers of commerce of Iran and Ukraine on Tuesday explored ways to boost trade ties in a webinar where both sides called for removing hurdles in the way of trade.

President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Mr. Gholam-Hossein Shafei and President of Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) Mr. Gennadiy Chyzhykov as well as other participants exchanged their views on how both countries can develop their bilateral trade.

Addressing the webinar, Mr. Shafei underscored this point that the private sectors of both countries are keen to boost bilateral trade, adding that sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic are two major factors that have recently hindered the development of trade relations between Iran and Ukraine.

He went on to say that however, state officials and private sectors of the two countries are very determined to develop ties, expressed hope that a brighter and more active economic prospect would be drawn up for both countries.

He also pointed to the restrictions in financial transactions and called for the launch and reinforcement of the barter trade system as he believes most of the problems will be solved by this action.

Shafei also admitted that the arrival of unprofessional tradesmen in the target countries leads to trade disputes and causes problems for the private sectors of the countries and suggested the establishment of some arbitration panels and credit bureaus to be put on the agenda. He reiterated he believes the establishment of arbitration panels has an important role in making healthy relations between the two states as well as presenting professional tradesmen.

Then, President of UCCI Mr. Chyzhykov, for his part, hinted at this point that once the trade volume of Iran and Ukraine was around $1b per year, and then elaborated economic capacities in front of Iran and Ukraine.

He said Ukraine is one of the leading countries in the field of processing industries, agriculture especially in producing types of liquid oil, sunflower, soya, and corn and this provides considerable cooperation opportunities between Iran and Ukraine.

He also pointed to Ukraine’s position in the world in the field of telecommunications and IT which can be good grounds for bilateral cooperation.

Chyzhykov admitted that financial exchanges and restrictions due to the sanctions have been one of the major hurdles in way of developing trade between both states and called for constant holding virtual meetings as well as forming specialized committees for resolving this problem.

Then Head of International Affairs of ICCIMA emphasized the implementation of preferential trade between the two countries and called for immediate signing of the preferential trade agreements which plays important role in boosting the trade volume between the two states.