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Iran customs seeks health protocol with neighbors to resume trade

Business Materials 9 April 2020 12:26 (UTC +04:00)
Iran customs seeks health protocol with neighbors to resume trade

TEHRAN,Iran, April. 9

Trend:

Iran is in correspondence with the neighboring countries to resume trade, deputy for foreign affairs at Iran's Customs Hossein Kakhki told Trend.

"The necessary measures should be implemented by customs of the neighboring countries in terms of confronting the coronavirus spread, so that the borders could be 'active'. One of these measures was direct contacts with Azerbaijan's customs, to keep joint borders open and increase exports," he said.

"Fortunately, Iran's export to Azerbaijan is ongoing via Bilasuvar and Astara customs. There were ups and downs, but the trading didn't stop completely," said the official.

"Iran also had correspondence with other countries, we have suggested a protocol for new trade to Turkey, Pakistan and Turkmenistan, to decide over the process of trade," Kakhki said.

"It has been suggested that customs would implement specific health regulations for trade-related activities, via their health ministries, and we are currently waiting for a response from those countries," he added.

"We have also contacted the head of the World Customs Organization, so it would suggest a protocol to its member countries for passenger transportation and commodity trade. It can be helpful in the future in case of possible pandemic situations," he said.

"The foreign ministry has directly sent the letter to Turkey regarding possible options for trade. We hope these issues would resolve soon and we would witness normal export and import," he said.

"In terms of current situation with Afghanistan and Iraq there was no problem in trade," Kakhki added. "Although Iraq had imposed limitations but the trade has not interrupted. In regards to trade via sea borders there was no problem in this field from the start," he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.

The outbreak of the coronavirus began in the Chinese city of Wuhan (an international transport hub), at a fish market in late December 2019. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 88,000. Over 1.4 million people have been confirmed as infected. Meanwhile, over 329,000 people have reportedly recovered.

Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.

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