TEHRAN (Iran News) – Head of Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hervik Yarijanian says an Iranian bank is to open its branch in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, and it will boost the trade between the two states.
Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) hosted an Iran-Armenia business forum on Sunday during which the attendees underlined the significant position of Armenia as Iran’s only land gateway for entering Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) markets.
Iran’s commercial attaché in Yerevan Akbar Godari, Head of Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry Yarijanian, and Head of Aras Free Zone Organization Majid Kiani were the key speakers at the mentioned business forum.
Speaking in the forum, Mr. Yaijanian said that 15 countries are neighboring Iran and the trade exchanges between them is around $1300b while Iran’s share of this figure is just 1.4% which is expected the figure to increase.
He pointed to the old and friendly ties of Iran and Armenia and said that there has been the least tension between the two countries and they have enjoyed good coexistence.
He added that good relations of governments have provided good ground for broadening economic relation especially in the private sector, adding that Mellat Bank of Iran has opened its branch in Yerevan two weeks ago and this bank is unique in form and performance.
Elsewhere in the event, Yarijanian pointed to the positive relations between Iran and Armenia and stated: “In the last 30 years, the diplomatic relations between the two countries and given that Armenia shares Iran’s only land border with the Eurasian Economic Union, the development of relations with this country provides enormous economic potential.”
Meanwhile Iran’s commercial attache in Yerevan Mr. Godari, for his part, stressed Armenia’s unique geopolitical situation among Iran’s neighboring countries and said: “Armenia is the only EAEU member with which Iran shares land border, and considering the fact that the country’s borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey are currently closed, Armenian market has a lot of potential for Iranian businessmen.”
Over the past year since the 13th government has taken office, nine rounds of negotiations have been held between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union, and issues related to the implementation of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two sides have been resolved, Godari said.
“The negotiations are in the legislative stage and will be finalized within the next few months,” he announced.
Stating that in the last two years, numerous Iranian company representatives and business delegations have visited Armenia, Godari said: “The market of this country has a big difference with some neighboring countries; in Armenia, products are imported from many countries all around the world, so, Iranian products have to compete with world-class products.”
