BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 10
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran plans to export $42 billion worth of non-oil products in the current Iranian year (began March 20, 2020), said Iran's Acting Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Hossein Modarres Khiabani, Trend reports citing the ministry.
According to Khiabani, at present, 80 percent of Iran's border customs are functioning and trade has returned to normal.
Modarres Khiabani added that exports of non-oil products are on the agenda more seriously this Iranian year. Because Iran aims to move away from a crude oil-dependent economy.
The acting minister said that the value of Iran's non-oil exports amounted to about $42 billion in the last Iranian year (from March 21, 2019 to March 20, 2020).
Khiabani said more than $24 billion (about 60 percent) worth of products have been exported to 15 countries around Iran. Therefore, the provinces bordering neighboring countries play an important role in Iran's exports.
"This year, the CIS countries (Commonwealth of Independent States), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), China, India and East Africa will focus on Iran's exports," he said.
Iran exported 133 million tons of non-oil products worth $41.3 billion last Iranian year.
Since February 19, a number of border customs have been suspended due to the spread of the coronavirus in Iran. This took a toll on Iran's trade.
Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 177,900 people have been infected, 8,506 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 140,500 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.
The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.
The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.
