Envoy: Armenia, gateway for exporting Iranian goods to Eurasia

Armenia’s market, with a population of 3 million, though not a big one, is a fertile ground for attracting the 180-million market of Eurasian countries for Iran, due to its geographical location, said Artashes Tumanyan in a workgroup meeting on non-oil export expansion of Markazi Province on Sunday.

He added that Iranian businessmen could transport their goods to the Eurasian countries via Armenia without having to pay customs duties.

The Armenia’s ambassador to Iran went on to say that the road and air transit is available for Iranian and Armenian businessmen without having to ask for visa, therefore, the two countries should benefit from the good opportunity to expand economic ties.

Pointing to the Armenia's three free-trade zones on IT, gold and jewelry, and garments, he added that the country had signed contracts with 28 European Union mermber states, based on which 6,400 types of goods were exported to Armenia and other Eurasian countries. He affirmed that Iran could have its own share of the market as well.

Deputy Governor of Markazi Province for economic and expansion affairs Zafar Afshoon vowed in the meeting that industrialists inclined to invest in or establish economic ties with Armenia, would be supported.

Saying that implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has paved the way for boosting economic relations between Iran and the world, he suggessted that the opportunities resulted from the agreement be utilized.

The Iranian official said, 'Over the first two months of the new Iranian year, (beginning on March 21), three ambassadors from Kenya, Denmark and Armenia have visited Markazi Province to expand economic ties, which is an indication of a promising future accompanied by economic development and generative employment.

Head of Markazi Province’s Chamber of Commerce Mohammad Reza Jafari said in the meeting that with any kind of consumer goods, including food, building materials and petrochemicals, manufactured in the province, it is advisable to assess the Armenia’s market by sending a trade delegation to the country to pave the way for export.

Last year, Iran exported 8.219 million tons of goods to Armenia from Markazi Province. The province's imports' value from the country was $ 213,287 over the same period.

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