Tehran, Iran, Oct. 2
Trend:
The establishment of a joint Iran-Syria chamber of commerce could be an effective step towards rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure in Syria, said the member of Iran Export Confederation, Trend reports citing ILNA.
“The signing of a strategic document of cooperation between Iran and Syria after the overthrow of ISIL and the establishment of security in the country provided an opportunity for Iranian businessmen to expand bilateral cooperation,” Mehdi Karimi Tafreshi said.
“Iran's involvement in rebuilding projects and activating production in Syria provide opportunities for Iranian private sector. Technical, engineering, industrial, agricultural, food, pharmaceutical and transportation services, investment in Syrian projects and power plant construction are among spheres of interest for Iranian businessmen in this country,” he added.
"However, the presence of Iranian private-sector in Syria and the expansion of trade with the country demands prerequisites; in the meantime, there are several constraints in this area," he noted.
Referring to the constraints, he said that problems of money transfers and export of manufactured goods, high shipping costs, lack of proper credit line and failure to enforce a free tariff agreement with Syria are among the most important factors preventing Iranian business from being present in Syrian market.
“The land route to Syria is very limited, and the investors have to use the shipping route, which implies high costs," he said adding that Iranian businessmen cannot easily obtain money for their export to Syria.
In his words, Syrian market can be also used as a re-export hub for Iran.