Azerbaijan, Baku, September 16 /Trend N. Umid/
More than 250,000 blood donor bags worth some 3 million euros have been idle at Iranian customs, due to problems with allocating the needed foreign currency, ISNA news agency reported.
The blood bags have been imported from France and the money has been paid at the previously official rate of USD (12,260 rials for each USD) and now the importer should pay Iranian Central Bank additional money based on different between old and new rates for clearance (12,260 versus 24,700 rials), official of Iranian Medical Equipments Traders Association, Abolfazl Sanei said.
He also criticized delay on allocating foreign currency for blood bags imports.
According to the statistics of the Iranian Customs Administration, Iran has imported some 118 tons of ethylene polymer blood bags worth $4.5 million and 1.7 tons of plastic blood bags worth $10,000 during first five months of the current solar year (started on March 21).
Iran previously has had problems with allocation of foreign currency as well. In August, Iranian media outlets informed that, more than 20 ships carrying staple goods are waiting at ports due to customs clearance problems linked to not allocating of the needed foreign currency.
The Central Bank hasn't allocated the foreign currency at the rate of 12,260 rials per each USD for stable goods which have been imported by private sector, despite government's decision, the report said.
The private sector of Iran also has problems with receiving foreign currency for official rate of 24,700 rials per dollar, the reports said.
Iran's Central Bank has allocated US dollars at the official rate of 24,700 rials per each USD for private sector's staple good importers in a very limited amount during last two months.
During the last several months staple goods importers have faced problems due to repealing the official USD rate of 12, 260 rials by the Iranian administration.
On August 18, the newly formed cabinet of ministers of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, has made a decision regarding clearing the staple goods that have been freezed at the country's customs.
The cabinet ministers commissioned the Central Bank and the concerned ministries to adopt the necessary measures for unloading the cargo ships and customs clearance of the dire necessities of the people.
