Turkey does not easily give its lucrative market to Iran with regard to its required goods and commodities but it penetrates into the industries that Iran has the competition power using Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
Turkey has never been a suitable market for Iran’s industrial products due to its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), producing quality and cheap products, having cheap labor force and accessing market of European countries.
For his part, former head of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) pointed to the stringent measures adopted by Turkish firms in delegating its market to other countries, he added, “Islamic Republic of Iran can only be exporter of agricultural products to Turkey and in this respect, Turkish firms have not thus far paved suitable ways for Iranian counterparts.”
To import goods listed in the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), Turkish firms even specify the exact time and volume of goods before importing formalities at the customs office in order to support their farmers, he maintained.
Commissioning chain stores and trade center as well as organizing permanent exhibitions are of the main demands of Turkish side in establishing trade and business relationship with other countries.
In response to a question on signing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Iran and Turkey, he said, “the issue of conclusion of PTA had raised between the two countries almost two years ago but since Turkish side was seeking to get lion’s share of domestic market even in prioritized industries such as cement, tile, ceramic, etc., objective of conclusion of this contract was not realized.”
In conclusion, he reiterated, “unfortunately, PTA agreement inked between Iran and Turkey was not taken into serious consideration, so that this issue caused Turkish side to get lion’s share of products.”
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