Iran, Russia sign cooperation agreement
Moscow, 22 December: Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines and Russian Commerce and Industry
Federation are to help Iranian and Russian commercial companies and organizations expand economic, scientific, technical
and trade cooperation.
Based on an agreement, reached between the ICCIM Chairman Ali Naqi Khamushi and his Russian counterpart, Yevginy
Primakov here on Monday [22 December], the ICCIM and Russian Commerce and Industry Federation will especially facilitate
trade activities by Iranian and Russian small- and medium-sized companies.
The agreement also envisages exchange of economic and legal information on mutual trade activities and markets,
holding of meetings and seminars, exchange of trade delegations and experts from Iranian and Russian companies and
organizations.
It calls for preparation of necessary conditions for active presence of Iranian and Russian companies, organizations
and industrialists in fairs and other trade events and also for encouraging mutual investment.
They are also to build direct links between their regional
offices, help Iranian and Russian companies with quality and quantity control of their output, and prevent unfair and
unhealthy competition.
Before inking the agreement, Primakov had told a round-table meeting of the ICCIM and the Russian Commerce and
Industry Federation that Tehran-Moscow trade, which does not exceed one billion dollars, should increase considering
their high potential and capacity in that regard.
Primakov stressed the need for mutual investment, inviting Iranian entrepreneurs to bring their capital to
Russia.
Khamushi too in an address to the meeting pointed to ratification of a new investment law in Iran and the permission
to foreign investors to transfer the profits made out of their investment in Iran, calling for expansion of mutual trade
and investment.
He also referred to Iran's high investment potential, its rich gas reserves, which make the country the
world's second largest gas producer, and also to the country's key position in production of fresh fruits,
pistachios, saffron, cheap and skilled work force as
He complained about imbalance in Iran-Russian trade, saying last year Russia exported 851m dollars worth of goods to
Iran but imported 73m dollars from the country in the same year.
He said the amount of trade does not suit the two states that bridge the east and the west, that enjoy exceptional
strategic condition and that contain half the world's gas reserves.
Gholam Reza Shafe'i, Iran's ambassador to Moscow, too, had told the meeting that Iran and Russia can
bolster mutual economic cooperation and relations considering their high potential in that regard.
Shafe'i said Iranian and Russian traders should strive for diversification and increase of their trade
exchanges, while governments should assist the traders in facilitating their visits to either country and help them with
marketing mechanisms.
He also called for shortening the time for visa issuance, establishing direct railway and ground links, easing
complicate customs formalities, and the speedy delivery of quality certificates to their goods on the entrance
point.
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