Iranian, Uzbek Businessmen Discuss Trade Ties

Deputy head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) for international affairs, Mohammadreza Karbasi, in an online meeting with Mukhtor Umarov, the chairman of the Association of Exporters of Uzbekistan, discussed the need for implementing a trade agreement between the two countries’ chambers of commerce. In the meeting, Karbasi announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between ICCIMA and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan with the aim of forming a joint trade committee, according to iccima.ir. He noted that the signed MoU can be considered as a big step toward the expansion of economic relations between the two countries.

According to Karbasi, the Iran-Uzbekistan Joint Trade Committee is in charge of implementing the memorandum. The official pointed to the extensive infrastructure, significant economic potentials, efficient manufacturing sectors, highly skilled human resources, and expertise of our country and noted that Iran could be a gateway for Uzbekistan’s trade relations with other countries in the region and in Asia. “Iran has the shortest and fastest routes for the transit of goods between Europe and East Asia, as well as between a large part of Russia and North African region,” he said. Iran’s special position in the region provides a stable prospect for investment and economic cooperation with countries all around the world, the ICCIMA official added.

According to Karbasi, removing banking barriers, reducing customs tariffs, reducing transportation costs and providing the necessary facilities in the field of rail transportation as well as increasing the number of active wagons between the two countries are necessary for the growth of trade and investment between Iran and Uzbekistan. The value of trade between the two countries increased from US$186 million in 2018 to US$411 million in 2019, he concluded. - Iran Daily