TEHRAN (Iran News) Moqimi discussed how the harsh sanctions have made international connections for Iranians more challenging and emphasized the need for specific strategies to maintain and strengthen these relationships. She pointed out that in recent years, the Iran-Georgia Chamber of Commerce has been exploring various strategies to safeguard their economic and commercial relations under these difficult conditions, with the main goal of keeping the economic ties alive. She noted the ongoing impact of politics and economics on each other.

One of the key priorities for the Chamber, she stated, is to continuously review strategies for preserving and expanding international economic relations, sharing these with members, and examining the current ecosystem.

She emphasized that today, innovation and startup activities are receiving special attention globally. Georgia has become an attractive destination for entrepreneurs due to its favorable tax policies, easy access to international markets, and government support for innovation and investment.

Referring to the 2019 World Bank report, Moqimi highlighted Georgia’s ranking as 6th in terms of ease of doing business. Additionally, the 2023 Startupblink index listed the country among the top 100 startup ecosystems globally.

Moqimi identified the key players in Georgia’s startup ecosystem as the government, growth centers and accelerators, investors and investment funds, and universities and research centers. She mentioned that starting a business in Georgia comes with several incentives, such as low taxes, a fast company registration process (which can take as little as two hours), access to international markets, and low operational costs.

These incentives are also available to foreign investors, she noted, adding that approved business plans from designated authorities could benefit from the outlined incentives. Furthermore, businesses can register their brands in Georgia. However, like other countries, there are challenges for businesses entering the market, including a lack of venture capital, which could restrict foreign investment, a limited domestic market, and access to a limited pool of skilled labor.

Moqimi also discussed export regulations for startups in Georgia, explaining that businesses can either establish a new company in Georgia or open a branch of a foreign company.

She described Georgia not just as a destination but also as a gateway, especially considering its strong position in transit and transportation. China, the UAE, and India have made significant investments in the region and have developed its ports.

Looking ahead, Moqimi forecasted that Georgia’s market, given its available resources, has the potential to become a key player in the region’s economic landscape.

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Head of International Investors Association of Georgia Mr. Osman Chalishkan who was heading the Georgian trade delegation in the IRAN EXPO 2023 met the Vice-President of ICCIMA Mr. Hossein Salahvarzi and during the meeting both sides talked on the grounds for joint cooperation for boosting the current trade volume.

Chalishkan emphasized that they are determined to increase the trade relation between Tehran and Tbilisi and said during his visit to Tehran has found many commonalities with his Iranian friends and expressed hope both sides play their roles for broadening trade ties.

He said that Iran has good potentials for trade cooperation especially in the field of construction materials, adding that high quality and lower price of Iranian products are attractive for Georgians. He then called for holding an exhibition on Iran’s capabilities in Tbilisi to introduce these capabilities to Georgian traders.

Then Salahvarzi, for his part, pointed to the good historical and political relation between Iran and Georgia and said that unfortunately the trade relation between the two states has not been as good as their historical and political relations and the current $350m trade volume despite their good capacities is not too much.

He said that ICCIMA knows well capacities and needs of Georgia and for this reason it has launched joint chamber and it is active and the ICCIMA is sure that it can boost good economic relation with Georgia.

He then noted that export of technical and engineering services, broadening tourism and energy production as well as joint investment can be good grounds for cooperation between the two countries and noted that ICCIMA welcomes holding exhibition in Georgia.

Then Head of Iran-Georgia Joint Chamber Ms. Fatemeh Moqimi announced readiness of the chamber for holding a big business forum Iran and Georgia businessmen, adding that the chamber is trying to hold the trade and industry exhibition in Georgia on July 7.

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Speaking in a meeting with the Ambassador of Georgia to the Islamic Republic of Iran Ioseb Chakhvashvili, the Chairman of Iran-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Group Adel Najafzadeh said that the two countries of Iran and Georgia must take maximum advantage of the opportunity created in this regard.

During the meeting, Najafzadeh pointed to the popular bonds and historical backgrounds as well as deep cultural commonalities between Iran and Georgia and emphasized the need for strengthening all-out cooperation between the two countries of Iran and Georgia.

Given the principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran for strengthening relations with neighboring countries in the Caucasus region, Islamic Republic of Iran attaches great importance for its relations with the Republic of Georgia.

The two countries of Iran and Georgia do not have conflicts of interest in any area, so there are many actual and potential areas for the development of bilateral, regional and international relations between the two countries, he added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he pointed to the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic and said, “It is hoped that bilateral parliamentary friendship delegations will be promoted with the normalization of coronavirus, COVID-19, conditions.”

For his part, Georgian envoy to the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressed his satisfaction with the establishment of Iran-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Iranian Parliament and expressed hope that the bilateral talks will lead to evermore strengthening of parliamentary relations between Iran and Georgia.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Director General for Europe-U.S. Office of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization says according to the statistics, Iran has exported goods worth of $13.56b in the first half of the current year and its exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have been around $692m.

Behrouz Olfat said that Iran has exported goods worth of $692m to the CIS countries this year which shows growth in exports to Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Moldavia comparing to the same period, but its exports to Georgia, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan have declined in the same period.

He further said the outbreak of coronavirus and health protocols which led to the closure of borders in some countries and border disputes of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Karabakh as well as the cruel sanctions of the West have been the main factors for the decline in Iran’s exports to the CIS countries, expressing hope by resolving these problems exports to this region would boom as before.

Olfat also noted that Iran’s imports from the CIS countries stood at $811m in the first half of the year which shows 2 percent fall comparing to the same period last year and only imports from Russia and Ukraine have increased in the first half of the year.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Board of Director of Georgia-Iran Chamber of Commerce and Industry met on Saturday and during the meeting ways of bolstering trade between both countries were explored.

In the meeting some issues like holding business forums and conferences, launching joint brokerage for offering consultation services, holding educational courses and signing agreement were discussed.

Vice-Chairwoman of the chamber Maryam Soltani in the meeting called for restoring continuous ties between the chamber and Iran’s embassy in Tbilisi and termed these relations necessary for improving and strengthening the level of trade between Iran and Georgia.

She noted that exchange of views between the chamber and Iran Embassy in Georgia with an eye on updating the latest data and information about capacities and regulations in any country, is the most important need of private sector for investment and presence in the target market.

Hossein Vosough, a member of the board of directors, also raised the issue of signing preferential trade agreement with Georgia and noted that the agreement can make competitive the presence of food stuff and dairy industry in Georgia’s market.

He also pointed to the importance of holding specialized exhibitions in Georgia especially exhibitions on agro, tourism and construction fields.

Meanwhile Iran’s new ambassador to Georgia Mr. Akbar Ghasemi, reacting to the raised problems by the members of the board, elaborated his programs, saying that the embassy is assigned to cooperate with the chamber and resolve its problems for progressing goals of the country.

He expressed hope that a new chapter of ties and exchanges between both states in the framework of mutual respect and interests would be shaped and the level of ties would reach its real position.

The meeting was presided by Georgia-Iran Chamber of Commerce and Industry Seyedeh Fatemeh Moghimi.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Head of Iran and Georgia Chamber of Commerce Fatemeh Moghimi says no Iranian truck is loaded for Georgia and Georgian officials have not yet lifted restriction over Iranian trucks.

On the latest development on transit of goods to Georgia, she said problems have not been resolved despite Georgian government’s decision that Iranian trucks could enter Georgia’s territory by holding CMR document but the problems remain in place despite the fact that some Iranian trucks hold the CMR documents.

She noted that so, no Georgia-bond truck is loaded and trucks are forced to return at the Red Bridge border checkpoint.

Moghimi expressed hope that by change of Iran’s ambassador to Georgia, these problems would be pursued seriously in order to resume exports to Georgia.

Since June, Georgia in an unexpected move has blocked the entry of Iranian trucks and despite Iran’s talks, it has not been solved.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – A member of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce says Georgia’s decision to close its borders to Iranian trucks has nothing to do with the outbreak of Coronavirus and it seems it is a politically motivated decision.

Speaking to ILNA, Ali Shariaati said since late May, Georgia without issuing any notice has closed its borders and it even unloaded Iranian trucks and the reason behind such a decision is unknown and it has worried Iranian traders.

Criticizing this unexpected move of Georgians, Shariati said that it seems Georgia has taken this decision in fight with Coronavirus pandemic but since the country has not officially announced the reason, the pretext of coronavirus is not acceptable for Iranians. He added that of course Georgian officials in compliance with the U.S. sanctions have been unkind to Iran and it seems their recent decision for closing borders is politically motivated because Georgia is more inclined towards Turkey.

Shariati added that if Georgia does not give any clear reason for its decision, Iran should summon Georgian Ambassador.

He claimed that Georgia is after launching trade corridor with Turkey by eliminating Baku route and Iranian trucks and it seems this is the reason behind severing trade ties with Iran

Meanwhile the head of the Iran-Georgia Chamber of Commerce told that Iran has not received a clear reason from Georgia why transit between two countries has been suspended.

Seyedeh Fatemeh Moghimi that unfortunately, this problem has been going on for the last two weeks and the joint chamber has not received a clear reason in this regard.

Wagonloads of Iranian goods have entered the Azerbaijan Republic via Astara and were scheduled to be transferred to Georgia. On May 27, Azeri officials refused entry to Iranian cargos.

Without prior notice, Georgia has stopped both trucks and freight trains heading from Iran via Red Bridge, the crossing point between Georgia and Azerbaijan on the Tbilisi-Ganja Road.

The chairwoman of Iran-Georgia Chamber of Commerce said “Therefore, there is still no exact date for sending the goods to Georgia and we can’t export to this country.”

“We have corresponded with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Iranian Chamber of Commerce and are still waiting for a response,” she added.

The spokesperson of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration Rouhollah Latifi also said that some blame it on disagreements between Baku and Tbilisi about the mode of transportation.

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In his Tuesday message to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, Jahangiri congratulated the South Caucasus country on its National Day, reported Tasnim News Agency.

He also highlighted the political will of the two countries’ senior officials for the enhancement of ties and the history of mutual cooperation between the two neighbors, expressing hope that employment of the available potentials would result in the enhancement of relations in various fields, particularly the economic and trade sectors.

Iran and Georgia have close political and economic ties and there are hundreds of companies registered by Iranians in Georgia.

Iran’s deputy minister of roads and urban development and Georgia’s deputy minister of economy discussed the latest situation of transportation of goods and passengers between the two countries in a virtual meeting last week.

At the virtual meeting, which was also attended by Iranian Ambassador to Tbilisi  Javad Qavam Shahidi, the two sides presented a report on the latest measures taken to comply with health protocols at their borders with neighboring countries after the outbreak of the coronavirus and stressed the need to resume trade between the two countries by creating “green corridors.”

Explaining the measures taken at Iran’s borders with neighboring countries and the effective implementation of health care and services for reopening borders, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abdol-Hashem Hassan-Nia called for facilitating the entry of Iran’s transit fleet into Georgia in compliance with health regulations.

The Iranian ambassador to Georgia also stressed the importance of launching a “green corridor” for the two countries’ trade and transit fleets as soon as possible and called on the two sides to work together to solve the problems of transporting goods, services, and passengers.

Emphasizing the importance of Iran’s status for Georgia in trade and tourism, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Akaki Saghirashvili referred to recent decisions made by the Corona Virus Coordination Headquarters to gradually reduce restrictions and said that the decision to lift restrictions on tourism and transit would be made in coordination with the country’s Ministry of Health.

While welcoming the activation of the Green Corridor project, he said that its realization is one of the priorities of the Georgian government in the field of transportation.

Saghirashvili also stressed the need to increase rail capacity and make the most of it in the field of transportation between the two countries.

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According To Iran News, Three 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team soldiers were killed and three others were injured during a training accident involving a Bradley Fighting Vehicle on Fort Stewart in the US state of Georgia.

The three deceased soldiers were pronounced dead on-site, the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield announced the a statement on Sunday, Time reported.

The three injured soldiers were rushed to Winn Army Community Hospital, where they are being treated for their injuries.

The involved soldiers’ names will not be released until 24 hours after their families are notified, according to the release. The incident is currently being investigated.

Maj. Gen. Tony Aguto, the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, expressed sadness about the incident in a statement.

“Today is a heartbreaking day for the 3rd Infantry Division, and the entire Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield community, as we are all devastated after a training accident this morning on the Fort Stewart Training Area,” Aguto said.

Fort Stewart, which covers 280,000 acres about 41 miles southwest of Savannah, Georgia, is the biggest Army installation east of the Mississippi River.

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