Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.30 /Trend, A.Yusifzade /
The goods, exported from Iran to Pakistan have increased by 50 percent up to $353 million and total turnover between two countries reached $600 million for the first eight months of this year [current Iranian calendar started on March 21, 2010] Ahmad Fasihi, Iran's Commercial Counselor in Pakistan was quoted by Trade Promotion Organization of IRI as saying.
Iron ore, polyethylene, transformers were the main items exported from Iran to Pakistan in the mentioned period.
Rice, pears, mangoes and other tropical fruit, sugar, transport vehicles, machines and mechanical devices and cotton textiles were the main imported items from Iran to Pakistan in the mentioned period.
Earlier, Tariq Sayeed Chairman Pakistan-Iran Business Council of FPCCI appreciated the concerted efforts of Iran's Commercial Counsellor in Karachi in arranging exchange of different trade delegations to both the countries which resulted in signing of agreements in various fields and increased mutual (non-oil) trade volume from $350 million in the last 4 years to $800 million in the previous year and it is expected that the trade volume will exceed $1 billion in the current year as a result of 45 percent rise in bilateral transactions.
"Iran has a great potential in the technical service sector relating to installation and exportation of energy power plants, which could assist Pakistan in over coming power shortage", Ahmad Fasihi said.
He indicated that an Iranian company M/S Sanir has signed an agreement worth $100 million with a Pakistani company to provide 1000 MW electricity to Sindh Province by creating wind power plant. In addition, Iranian companies can also assist Pakistan in construction of highways, railways, bridges, huge building complexes, grain depots and dams. The joint ventures in these fields could be fruitful for both countries, Pakistani investors can participate in various projects including buying or starting private banks in Iran, he added. He stated that with the launch of an Iranian bank in Pakistan and vice versa could help to reach bi-lateral trade to $3 billion per year.
He affirmed that with the efforts of its Commercial Office in Karachi a trade delegation from Hamadan Province headed by the President of Hamadan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mines and another trade delegation from Fars Province (Shiraz), headed by its Chamber President are expected to visit Pakistan early next year . Similarly, a trade delegation from Pakistan is expected to visit Kermanshah and Kordistan Provinces in Iran.
According to Iranian Customs Administration (IRICA) Head Ardeshir Mohammadi from March to November 2010 China was the main importer of Iranian products, whose share was 18 percent, or $3.094 billion in the total. Iraq came as the second major importer of Iranian goods with a total amount of $2.843 billion.