TEHRAN (Iran News) – Chairman of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA) says Oman’s government is assessing the admission of Iranian ships in its ports and its approval can have positive effect for easing economic exchanges between Iran and Oman and for using the advantages of free trade zones of the two countries for bilateral trade.
Addressing the first virtual exhibition of Iran and Oman on Monday, Gholam-Hossein Shafei said that virtual exhibition is an opportunity to introduce capabilities, potentialities and products of Iran and Oman.
He went on to say that virtual exhibition of Iran and Oman is an opportunity to showcase capabilities, potentials and latest products, technologies used in industrial and production sectors of the two countries.
This opportunity created should be used in the best way possible and relations between the two countries should not be limited to commercial relations (buying and selling goods), rather, creating a space for exchange of new ideas and thoughts with the approach of creating innovative ideas in the field of joint ventures and establishing long-term economic relations should be taken into serious consideration between the two countries of Iran and Oman.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Shafei pointed to COVID-19 pandemic and said that holding this virtual exhibition using world’s most modern technologies under the coronavirus pandemic, which has severely affected trade and business activities at the international level, indicates firm determination of Iranian and Omani officials in line with developing and promoting trade-industrial ties between the two countries.
He invited Omani companies and exhibitors present at the exhibition and also Omani economic agents and investors to visit the exhibition in order to get acquainted with the potentials and capabilities of Iran.
ICCIMA chairman also added that the Islamic Republic of Iran has high capabilities to increase industrial and commercial investments.
Shafei also noted that the Iranian market provides the necessary ground for cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors as two complementary parts.
He also called for launching an investment committee by the joint chamber of commerce of the two states for identifying the profitable projects for their implementation.
Shafei also said that the re-export of Iranian goods via Oman and developing transit and port cooperation is one of the most important issues for bilateral cooperation.
He added that fortunately the Omani government is studying the assessment of Iranian ships in Oman’s ports and in case it is approved, it can have positive effect on expansion of economic exchanges between the two countries and on using the advantages of free zones for bilateral trade.
He expressed hope holding such events would present practical solutions for expansion of trade between the two countries.
Meanwhile addressing the event, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) Mr. Reza bin al-Saleh pointed to the trade volume of Iran and Oman and said the figure stood around $400m last year, adding that Oman is trying to expand its ties with Iran in all spheres and for this reason the country has signed MoUs with Iran in different fields like air transportation. He added that holding this virtual event is in line with developing relations in all fields.
Saleh then said Oman has encouraged Iranian economic activists to enter its market and it tries to create a good and diverse climate economically for the private sector for sharing experiences. He reiterated that Oman welcomes the presence of Iranian investors for investment in Oman and implementing the joint project because Oman seeks growth in economic relations and foreign investment and therefore it welcomes any investment.
He added that Oman is keen for cooperation and foreign investment in the fields of mines, paper industry, chemicals, metal and non-metal industries, transportation, recycling and construction materials.
Then Chairman of Iran-Oman Joint Chamber Mohsen Zarrabi pointed to the good and amicable ties between the two states and said the pandemic made Iran and Oman hold this virtual exhibition.
He said Oman’s imports last year stood at $24b while Iran’s share of this figure was $438m, just 1.8 percent of the total imports.
