Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture Mohsen Jalalpur said the two sides have had good relations since the past arguing that the current level of economic ties between the two countries’ state and private organizations are not satisfactory despite the existence of all required factors for reinvigorating collaborations.
He deemed the upcoming period of the Iranian economy, the government’s policy to assign greater roles to the private sector as well as decreasing the national economy's level of dependence on oil incomes as major factors increasing the responsibilities of Iran Chamber of Commerce.
“Iranian businessmen and economic activists expect to move in line with high capacities of the world’s traders taking effective steps towards joint venture leading to the enhancement of Iran’s export development,” he added.
The official enumerated possible grounds for cooperation between Iran and Lebanon including agricultural production, construction and related equipment, electricity production and transmission, pharmaceutical equipment and tourism.
Jalalpur further underlined “Lebanese agricultural products enjoy a very high quality in comparison with international standards which marks a decisive factor in the development of bilateral cooperation especially with regard to export of Iran’s machinery to Lebanon as well as to the production and export of Iranian goods to the regional market.”
He said that establishment of regular air and sea lines between the two countries is a dire need adding “the establishment of a direct shipping line between Iran and Lebanon is on the agenda of the Iranian government.”
At the end of his remarks, Jalalpur urged relevant officials to take effective measures to finalized the decision and facilitate goods exchange between the two sides.
Lebanon's Finance and Treasure Minister Ali Hassan Khalil who is in Iran at the top a high-ranking state and private sector delegation, for his part, said that certain factors such as the sanctions in the recent years have led to decreased bilateral trade level which requires urgent action on the part of the governments.
Ali Hassan Khalil also complained that “some of the signed MoUs were not fully implemented which in turn led to lowering the level of bilateral ties.”
“Thanks to the steadfast will of both governments, the existing problems will soon be resolved,” he added.
He further announced Lebanese companies’ eagerness to communicate with Iran’s private sector; “the future cooperation can extend cooperation from some special items to all commercial products.”
HA/IRN81869606