BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 10
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran and Austria may become trade partners, with proper strategy from both sides, Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade of Iran, Head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) Hamid Zadboum said, Trend reports citing the organization’s website.
He made the remark during the 10th meeting of the Iran-Austria Joint Economic Commission held online.
Zadboum said that Austria is among the top 20 countries in Iran's trade turnover. With the removing of restrictions (the spread of coronavirus pandemic and sanctions, and etc.) in the coming years, trade turnover between the two countries may increase.
The deputy minister added that during the coronavirus pandemic, a number of problems arose for the world economy. These problems have worsened in Iran's health sector due to sanctions and restrictions on financial transfers. Despite all this, Iran began to manufacture products and equipment to combat coronavirus with a number of advances in the health sector. Even these products were exported to neighboring, European and non-European countries.
Speaking at the meeting the Director General, Economic Affairs, Innovation and International Policy, Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs Florian Frauscher noted that Austria is interested in increasing trade relations with Iran.
The Austrian government has planned a package worth 50 billion euro in order to guarantee the liquid assets of companies, support the labor market and international trade. It is hoped that Iran will be able to use this package, Frauscher said.
Austrian Ambassador to Iran Stefan Schultz also said in the meeting that he was trying to create conditions for Iranian and Austrian companies to work together. Thus, after the coronavirus pandemic, trade relations between Iran and Austria should increase to the maximum.
Iranian Ambassador to Austria Abbas Bagherpour said that it was gratifying that period of the roadmap for trade relations between Iran and Austria had been extended. This agreement shows that the both countries are interested in developing trade relations.
According to the report of the TPOI, the trade turnover between Iran and Austria amounted to 479,000 tons worth $318 million during the 11 months of the current Iranian year (from March 20, 2020 through February 18, 2021). Iran's trade turnover with Austria decreased by 16 percent compared to the same period last Iranian year.
So, Iran exported 3,640 tons of goods worth $9.83 million to Austria and imported 476,000 tons of goods worth 308 million from Austria over the reporting period.