TEHRAN (Dispatches) – The head of Central Organization for Rural Cooperatives of Iran (CORC) Alia Osat Hashemi has offered to form a strong brand for Iranian saffron in a bid to gain 80% of shares in the global market.
Hashemi made the remarks while addressing the officials of private and state sectors of saffron and called for making decisions on export and trade issues in the saffron market.
He also stressed for taking necessary measures for raising Iran’s share in the global saffron market from the current 30 percent to as high as 80 percent.
Referring to the necessity of planning as national level to meet national interests, he added, "Once a powerful brand is dubbed for the Iranian saffron, it will undoubtedly benefit both farmers and businessmen.”
Managing director of the Central Organization for Rural Cooperatives of Iran (CORC) said it was also possible to create a basis for creation of a global stock exchange for Iran’s saffron, and to this end, bodies involved in production and exports of the precious product need to join hands with the FAO representative.
Hashemi went on to urge businessmen to encourage farmers to be more productive; adding, "The move will undoubtedly exert a positive effect on the country’s trade balance by providing the necessary coherence in protecting domestic production”.
The official recalled that Iran accounted for 70 percent of the world’s saffron output and said, "We may not have much control over oil prices, but we can definitely be more effective in controlling those of saffron.”