During a meeting with the visiting New Zealander Trade Minister Todd McClay, Governor of Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Valiollah Seif said prior to sanction years, six banks of New Zealand had launch appropriate broker relations with Iranian counterparts indicating the age-old and transparent activities of Iranian banks in the Oceanic country and earlier ties, which were cut off as a result of anti-Iran sanctions, will hopefully be resumed by continuous holding of similar meetings.”
“Proper banking relations are required for reaching the ideal level of trade turnover between the two countries,” said Seif deeming resumption of banking cooperation as a top priority.
The official, while stressing compliance of the regulations of Iran’s banking system with international standards, reiterated that “CBI has managed to keep up with recent changes in international regulations and standards by taking several measures including passing of legislations to Combat the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) as well as the law on Anti-Money Laundering (AML).”
“CBI’s supervisory role has become strengthened and all Iranian banks are obliged to implement these standards,” said Seif stating that, as a result of these measures, the financial transparency sought by international banks is currently available in Iran.”
He recalled that, following implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran has managed to deepen banking relations with a number of European banks specially in France, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Italy.
Valiollah Seif, while pointing to the broker relations established between CBI and a number central banks in European states, recommended that New Zealander banks launch similar ties with private banks of Iran.
Also during the meeting, Trade Minister of New Zealand Todd McClay referred to age-old relations between the two countries saying “Iran marks New Zealand’s first trade partner in the Middle East and the trade turnover capacity between the two sides was estimated to reach one billion dollars during the earlier visit of Iran’s FM Zarif to the Oceanic country.”
He further noted that representatives of New Zealand Bankers' Association were accompanying him during the visit to Tehran; “over 90% of banks in New Zealand are members of the Association and the we are the first trade mission to Tehran in 12 years.”
On New Zealand’s stance towards Iran, McClay said we have informed all private banks that anti-Iran sanctions have ended and Iran’s banking system has launched numerous ties with international banks; “my presence in Iran is a bid to accelerate bilateral ties between the two parties.”
He reaffirmed that New Zealand remains committed to expand collaborations with Iran and said “25 economic activists are accompanying me and have held meetings with their Iranian counterparts.”
New Zealand’s trade minister underscored that countless venues exist for reinvigoration of trade ties between the two countries adding “following sanctions removal, excellent opportunities are now available to resume bilateral cooperation in various sectors like education, construction, food and beverage, energy, forestry in addition to manufacturing and service arenas.
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