New Opportunities In Tehran-Moscow Ties

Tehran, Aug 27, IRNA - New rare opportunities have been provided in Iran-Russia ties over the past months, a move that can pave way for boosting trade between both states, ˈIran Dailyˈ wrote in its Opinion column published Wednesday. The condition is very suitable for Iranian and Russian industrialists and businessmen to take advantage of target markets in both countries, added the English-language paper, elucidating on three key opportunities. 1- Signing of an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on economic and trade cooperation This MoU contains a vast range of mutual cooperation on issues such as railroad, energy, industries, atomic energy, trade, power plants, oil and gas and various kinds of technologies. Certain obstacles facing Iranian businessmen and industrialists were removed in the MoU and both the state and private sectors can conduct their plans with further security. Iran’s Oil Ministry as well as Ministry of Industries, Mines and Trade have been assigned to coordinate plans drawn up by the private sector. The upcoming meeting of the joint Iran-Russia economic commission on September 8-11 is a suitable opportunity for dialog between businessmen and industrialists of the two countries to increase their interactions. The Russian side is prepared to send a several-hundred-strong delegation into the gathering. 2- Opening of Russia’s fruit and vegetable market In reaction to the recent sanctions imposed on Russia by the US, Europe, Canada and Australia, Moscow banned the import of many goods including fruit, vegetables, dairy products, seeds, meat, fish and other agricultural products from these countries. Both the Russian prime minister and agriculture minister have recently said that Moscow eyes countries such as Iran, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Latin American states to supply Russian market with these products. Figures show that Russia’s imports of food and agricultural products had reached to $40b annually. For example, Russia has been importing nearly $1b worth of food per year from Poland which has met with Russian embargos. In recent weeks, the Russian media pointed out Iranian businessmen were not active enough to fill the Western vacuum in the Russian market. Therefore it is necessary for Iranian fruit and vegetable exporters to take this opportunity with the support of the government. 3- Mutual Iran-Russia investment Russian investors have invested billions of dollars in European and other states in recent years and because of the ongoing dispute between the West and Russia over Ukraine, it is expected that they would transfer their investments to other states gradually. Iran’s growing economy has the capacity to draw these investments. Meanwhile, Iranian investors also can take the opportunity to invest in the Russian agriculture sector. The opportunities are not limited to the mentioned items and other companies, for example Iranian carmakers such as Iran Khodro and Saipa can export tens of thousands of vehicles to Russia by making a proper five-year planning. The fact is that the large Russian market is only open to strong companies with huge capital that can compete with other firms. Iranian industrialists and businessmen can count on the all-out support (of the government) for their activities (in Russia). Undoubtedly, boosting mutual relations and a strong presence of Iranian and Russian businessmen in both states can strengthen national interests and help economic growth of the two states as well as establish regional and international peace and security, the paper stressed in conclusion. * Mohammad Sanaei is Iran’s ambassador in Moscow/end