TEHRAN, Iran, March 12
Trend:
Iran's export has been reduced by 30 percent due to coronavirus spread, while the imports have increased, member of Iran's Business Women's Association Leyla Fathi said, Trend reports citing ILNA.
"The exports have decreased by 30 percent in value and 20 percent in volume in the past month, while the imports have increased," she said.
She pointed out that there should have been better negotiations with export destinations.
"Iraq's northern borders with Iran are open but due to heavy traffic, transportation goes on very slowly and causes high export costs," Fathi said.
"Afghan borders are also open, but the drivers are hardly interested in transferring cargo in this direction," she said.
Fathi noted that Iran should hold more negotiation with neighbor countries to avoid losing markets, as "it's easy to disinfect cargos and trucks".
She said that slow movement in this direction would result in Iran losing its markets to rivals.
"Coronavirus spread is global but the transactions still continue, Iran should have signed common protocol and standards with neighboring countries to solve the problem," she said.
Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 9,000 people have been infected, 354 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 2,900 have reportedly recovered from the disease.
The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.
Following the reports of coronavirus spread in the Islamic Republic, several countries have taken measures, including closing borders and banning flights.
The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.