Private Sector Seeks Government Help to Boost Trade With Turkey
TEHRAN - Chairman of the Joint Chamber of Commerce of Iran and Turkey Mehrdad Sa’adat has called for a “positive” attitude of the government to trade with neighboring countries, saying this can remove political problems and trade barriers and will help expansion of economic ties.
Mehrdad Sa’adat told IRAN that rising figures of foreign trade should not misguide economic operators.
He said Iran should now go for a target of 15-billion-dollar trade with Turkey, which is still much lower than the former 21-billion-dollar commerce between the two countries.
Sa’adat said the joint chamber has already held exhibitions and conferences and has set the stage for Iranian expatriates in Turkey to get acquainted with their Iranian counterparts to attract investments.
The official said, however, that the government should also work to ease trade.
“It is expected that the government addresses the issue of [trade with] neighboring countries, especially Turkey, carefully and seriously,” he said.
“Turkey, as a neighbor, has extraordinary advantages for Iran, and with steps taken by the government, the private sector can also take steps in line with the national interests.”
“We hope existing problems between the two countries are quickly eliminated.”
Iran exported $6.1 billion worth of products to Turkey the previous Iranian calendar year, which shows a 141-percent increase year-on-year.
Exports to Turkey sees 141% growth
Saadat said that Iran’s exports to the country saw a 141% growth to reach to $6.1b in the last Persian year although much bigger numbers have been experienced in the years before.
Saadat added that Iran’s foreign trade was increasing last Persian year, but this shouldn’t prevent businesses from moving even further.
He added that Iran’s trade with Turkey has seen much bigger numbers, including 21 billion dollars of business transaction in the past years.
Iran-Turkey trade has enough capacity to increase significantly and 15 billion dollars can be targeted for the first step, he noted.
The official also mentioned Turkey’s 300 billion dollars of foreign trade in 2021, adding that the country has great advantages to be leveraged by Iran’s private sector.
Iran exported 6.1 billion dollars of goods to Turkey in March 2021-March 2022, showing a 141-percent growth compared to the year before.