TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran’s Ambassador to Venezuela Mr. Hojjatollah Soltani says currently all Venezuelan banks are connected to Swiss banks and there is no sanction on those banks and Iran has direct banking connection with Venezuela which can boost the trade between the two countries.
Speaking at the conference on reviewing the trade capacities of Iran and Latin American states, Soltani said he believes the 13th government is one of the trade opportunities of Iran and Venezuela. He added that the 13th government attaches special attention on cooperation with non-European countries and the U.S., and it is considered a chance for reinforcing trade with other countries that the government pursues is seriously.
He went on to say that increase in the trade cooperation of Iran and Venezuela has created a positive outlook for economic cooperation between the two countries, adding that one of the opportunities for cooperation with Venezuela and Latin America is that these countries are not Iran’s rival or enemies politically or economically.
Soltani emphasized that exports of goods to European countries are more difficult than to the Latin American, adding that Iranian products have stronger markets in Latin America, Central Asia and Southeast Asia.
He then pointed to the transportation beds created between Iran and Venezuela and said currently 3 ships have been charted at Iran-Venezuela route and in case the trade cooperation between the two countries increases, the number of ships will increase.
Soltani then pointed to the banking relations of the two countries and said Tehran has currently direct relation with Venezuelan banks and Iranians can open LCs directly and send or receive banking havalas directly and transfer the havalas to the international banks.
He reiterated that in the past Venezuelan government had a Socialist approach but today it pursues open market economy and unified forex rate is dominating the market.
Soltani emphasized that all Venezuelan banks are connected to the SWIFT and there is no sanctions against them. He said Iran has had successful experience in exports to Venezuela and it can enhance the level of economic cooperation with Venezuela. He admitted that countries like China, India and Turkey are main rivals of Iran in Venezuela. He reiterated that transport of a 40-foot container to Venezuela by chartered ship from Iran is very cheaper than from China and Turkey to Venezuela.
He said that currently Iran’s goods like wood, petroleum coke and iron scraps have good customers in Venezuela and Iran can take advantage of it. He said China does not want to lose Venezuela’s market and Venezuelans are keen to cooperate with Iran because Iranian goods are cheaper for them.
Soltani admitted that one of the main challenges ahead of trade between Tehran and Caracas is the sudden changes in the exports regulations and it disheartens Iranian exporters. He stated that lack of strong companies and trade holdings in Iran is another challenge because Venezuela needs a range of different goods and it is difficult to talk with different companies on different goods, and Venezuela seeks finding a trade holding in Iran.
