Iran, Armenia Call For Developing Trade, Economic Ties

Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Abdolnasser Hemmati in a meeting with Armenia's Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan on Saturday expressed hope for improving Iran's trade and economic conditions and stressed the opportunity to develop cooperation capacities between Iran and Armenia. Pointing to the long and old history of trade and cultural relations between Iran and Armenia, Hemmati said that Iran hopes that holding similar meetings could further strengthen the bilateral relations. Stating that Iran and Armenia are members of the Eurasian Economic Union, he added that Armenia can have a tremendous impact on the development of trade relations between the two countries and with the entire Union by using its geographical position. Kerobyan also called for the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries, particularly the investment and production activities of important Iranian companies in Armenia. He made the remarks on the sidelines of the meeting with the Armenian Minister of Economy on Saturday, noting that both sides conferred on the expansion of economic relations as well as methods of transferring money and resources between the two countries. “The goal is to increase trade volume between the two countries from the current 320 million euros or 330 million euros through adopting joint measures,” he added. He went on to say that the participation of both countries in the Eurasian Economic Union is a great opportunity to facilitate trade between Tehran and Yerevan. According to Hemmati, necessary measures have been adopted to facilitate the investment of Iranian companies in Armenia.

Also, Developing cooperation between Iranian and Armenian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) as well as setting up a technology center between the two countries were emphasized in a meeting between heads of SMEs Organizations of the two countries.   In this bilateral meeting, which was held at the venue of Iran Small Industries and Industrial Parks Organization (ISIPO) on Sat., CEO of Iranian Small- and Medium-Sized Organization Ali Rasoulian and his Armenian counterpart Levon Ohanesian discussed the introduction of activities and measures taken to develop small- and medium-sized enterprises and joint areas of bilateral cooperation were exchanged between the two parties.

Rasoulian pointed to the very close relationship between the people of Armenia and Iran and the vast opportunities for cooperation between the two countries and stressed the need to develop cooperation between economic enterprises based in townships and industrial parks as well as organizing exhibitions in the presence of Iranian and Armenian firms. He also referred to the experience of setting up technology centers with other countries in ISIPO, launching a permanent center for the exchange of technology between Iran and Armenia in Tehran and also face-to-face meetings between Iranian and Armenian firms.

For his part, Levon Ohanesian Head of Center to Support Investment and Development of SMEs in Armenia expounded on the executive programs and activities of this Center. He voiced the readiness of his country in expanding bilateral cooperation especially in the field of SMEs and sharing successful experiences between the two countries. - IRNA, Mehr