BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec. 12
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:
Iran plans to increase exports to 15 nearby countries, Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Hossein Modares Khiabani said at an awarding ceremony of exporters in Iran’s Kerman province, Trend reports via IRNA.
The minister noted that these 15 countries import goods worth $15.2 trillion from around the world, and Iran has a 2-percent share of this amount with $24 billion.
Khiabani noted that the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade has planned export expansion to 15 neighboring countries, and estimates by the Iranian Trade Promotion Organization indicate that the export capability to these countries is $100 billion.
The minister pointed out that it has been about eight months since the Iranian economy turned from a single-product economy into an exporter of a variety of commodities, which is why export is one of the country’s top priorities.
Khiabani added that the main goal of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade is increasing the volume of exports and promoting the average value of export goods.
The minister said that the average value of exported goods in Iran is $400 per ton, while the average value of imported goods in Iran is $1,200 per ton.
Khiabani emphasized that the main goal is to increase the export volume and the average value of export goods, and increasing Iran’s average export value will be achieved by converting exports of raw materials into high value-added of the final product.
Commenting on the memorandum on preferential trade between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the minister said that Iran’s exports to the union member countries are about $2.7 billion, adding that exports can be increased.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Kerman Industry, Mine and Trade Organization Mehdi Hosseininejad said that despite the US sanctions, Kerman province’s exports have soared 35 percent compared to the same period last year.
The chairman didn’t comment on the details of exports from the Kerman province.
On Oct. 27, 2019, the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Islamic Republic of Iran and EAEU came into effect. In accordance with the memorandum, 862 kinds of products will be imported and exported upon the preferential tariffs between the two parties. As agreed, Iran will export 502 kinds of products and import 360 kinds of products.
Iran will mainly export pistachios, kiwi, oil products, raisins, cucumbers, cabbages, persimmons, medicines, cement, copper and methanol. The country will mainly import barley, animal feed, oil, cathode and wood from the EAEU member states.
The US imposed sanctions on Iran in November 2019 and expanded them in several stages. The sanctions have had negative impact on Iran's oil exports.