BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend
As many as $52.7 million worth of agricultural products were exported from Golestan province in northeastern Iran to various countries, mainly in Asia, in the last Iranian year (from March 21, 2019 to March 20, 2020), said Deputy Director for Planning and Economic Affairs of the Agricultural Department of Golestan Province Ameneh Jamshidi Roudbari, Trend reports citing IRNA.
According to Jamshidi Roudbari, 53,000 tons of various agricultural products were exported last Iranian year.
The official said that products exports accounted for 17 percent of the province's total exports in term of weight and 44 percent in term of value.
"According to the report of the relevant agencies engaged in the exports from Golestan province, 304,000 tons of non-oil products worth $114 million were exported last Iranian year," he said.
Jamshidi Roudbari added that products worth $251 million were exported from the province in the preceding year (from March 21, 2018 through March 21, 2019), and the value of agricultural products amounted to $72 million.
"The main reason for the decline in exports last Iranian year was the US sanctions against Iran and the spread of the coronavirus," he said.
The US imposed new sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies and individuals.
Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 85,900 people have been infected, 5,391 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 63,100 have reportedly recovered from the disease.