ARMENIAN-IRANIAN ECONOMIC POTENTIAL GREAT – ARA PETROSYAN
13:06 16.07.13
Iran is Armenia’s partner, the bilateral trade turnover is $300m and
can be doubled, Armenia’s Minister of Economy Ara Petrosyan stated
at an Armenian-Iranian business forum on Tuesday.
The forum is one more step toward strengthening the bilateral economic
ties and achievements in other fields.
“Armenian-Iranian economic relations have great potential. The
Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental economic commission holds regular
discussions of the bilateral relations. About 60 Iranian businessmen
have arrived in Armenia, which is good occasion for establishing new
contacts,” he said.
Yahya Ale-Eshaq, Chairman of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce,
Industries, Mines and Agriculture, pointed out the problems that
need solving.
“Both the countries are creating favorable conditions for investments,
industry, agriculture, banking, education and culture. The two states’
authorities are willing to develop the relations. Iran’s private
sector is willing to cooperate with Armenia’s business community
as well. The sixty businessmen’s visit to Armenia is evidence of
their willingness to establish contacts with the Armenian side,”
he said. Mr Yahya Ale-Eshaq invited Armenian businessmen to the next
business conference in Tehran.
Speaking of the problems, he said: “We are cooperating with many of
our neighbors by means of the visa-free system. So we are waiting for
the Armenian government’s decision because we have no legal problem.
We also have a preferential tariff treatment problem, as Armenia has
set high tariffs for Armenia – 20 to 30 percent -, which, in turn,
causes a rise in the self-cost of products.”
With respect to product distribution, Mr Yahya Ale-Eshaq pointed out
the need for an Iranian trade center in Armenia.
The Armenian and Iranian Chambers of Commerce and Industry signed a
memorandum of understanding on the development of economic, technical
and cultural relations.
Armenian News – Tert.am