Mohsen Jalalpour and Minister of Foreign Trade for Ecuador Diego Aulestia Valencia met in Iran’s Chamber of Commerce office on Monday where both officials believed the prospects of political and economic relations between Iran and Ecuador were promising and that Chamber of Commerce of both countries would play a crucial role in extension of ties.
“We have great relations with Ecuador’s neighbors and enjoy higher trade balance with them compared to Ecuador, a gap which will be bridged only in the long run through improved trade and economic relations,” said Jalalpour, “Iran’s private sector would favor three distinct paths to improve economic relations; joint ventures in domestic markets and improved access to regional markets; participation by Iranian and Ecuadorian companies in third country projects and the third would be to work in organizations both countries are members,” he added.
“About the first proposed path, we have valuable experiences in working with industrial machinery manufactured in Iran and agricultural products made in Ecuador; we could improve information exchange between two countries through expert panels, exhibitions, and communications in the cyberspace,” Jalalpour detailed. “Both countries are in a region which provides them with higher potentials to dominate neighboring countries’ markets, joint investments, brand developing, and technical services in oil and gas, and agriculture; for example, we could export to Russia Ecuador’s products cropped in equators.”
Jalalpour also commented in the third path; “being members to OPEC provides excellent opportunities for both, especially Iran now when sanctions have been removed; policies in both countries should target cooperation in OPEC framework in an strategic perspective which would provide long term interests of both countries,” he said.
Ecuadorian official for his part welcomed removal of sanctions on Iran’s economy and emphasized upon extension of trade through joint investments and financing projects; “Ecuadorian officials have a considerable level of agreement on three paths of cooperation and believe they will bring about sustainable relations and a win-win situation for both countries,” he said.
“Iran is an important regional hub and we hope to provide better access to Iranian and Ecuadorian businesses for both countries’ neighbors through Chambers of Commerce of both nations; a review of trade tariffs would greatly facilitate bilateral trade and exchange,” Mr. Valencia emphasized. “With industrial machinery imported from Iran, we will receive information regarding these machinery through conferences, seminars, and exhibitions which would be best held by cooperation of Chambers of Commerce,” he added.
Valencia also welcomed Iranian contractors’ participation in Ecuador’s infrastructure projects; “metal casting, mineral exploration and extraction, construction and refinery building projects require Iranian engineering and technical services, which should have finance and credit lines of banks in both sides,” he proposed.
He hailed opening of Ecuadorian trade office in Tehran and improved commerce with Iran in diverse fields; “with cooperation in third country projects, Iran’s experiences in logistics, shipping and maritime activities are valuable for us; we have been friends for Iran in hard times of sanctions, and hope to see more profitable relations with Iran more than the past,” he suggested.
SH/PR