Qatar to boost trade exchanges with Iran to $1b

Doha, May 13, IRNA – Qatar will increase its trade exchanges with Iran to 1 billion dollars by the end of 2018, managing director of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Qatar said. Ahmad Ahan made the remarks Sunday addressing the 6th joint economic commission of Iran and Qatar. The economic exchanges between Iran and Qatar was less than $90m last year, but the figure hit $250m at the end of the last Iranian calendar year (ended March 20). Qatari official appreciated Iran for helping Qatar government in sanction era. After imposing sanctions by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt on Qatar, Iran Air by operating extraordinary flights sent aids to the Qatari people. Ahan referred to high amount of customs and non-customs tariffs, high price of services in Iran as the most important obstacles in the way of developing relations between two countries. He also pointed to presence of over 500 Iranian investors in different fields with Qatari partners in Qatar market as positive factors in Iran-Qatar trade ties. The 6th joint economic commission of Iran and Qatar which started work today after 13 years will be underway until May 14 in Doha. 1378/IRNA