BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 19
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran intends to increase exports by 21 percent in the current Iranian year (from March 21, 2021, through March 20, 2022), Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade of Iran, and Head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) Hamid Zadboum told journalists, Trend reports citing the organization’s website.
According to the deputy minister, in this regard, the plans have not yet been announced to various agencies.
“The research shows that controlling the coronavirus pandemic will have a major positive impact on economic development,” he added.
Zadboum stressed that in order to increase domestic production in Iran, it is necessary to increase the import of some raw materials. If the import of raw materials increases, domestic production in Iran will increase, and, as a result, exports will also increase. As well as, trade conditions must be favorable in order to increase exports, and sanctions are a major obstacle in this direction.
The official noted that Iran’s exports decreased by about 15 percent in terms of volume and value over the last Iranian year (from March 20, 2020, through March 20, 2021). At the same time, the imports decreased by 11.7 percent in terms of value and 5.8 percent in terms of volume.
Zadboum said that one of the main reasons for the decline in Iranian exports was the closure of borders due to the coronavirus pandemic in the first three months of last Iranian year.
“In addition, one of the reasons for the decline in exports was the decline in Iranian gas exports to Turkey. Iran's exports fell by $6 billion in terms of value. About $2 billion of it is related to gas exports,” he said.
Reportedly, an explosion occurred in the Iranian gas pipeline to Turkey in March 2020. As a result, the gas supply was suspended for about three months.
Iran's total foreign trade turnover amounted to about 146 million tons worth $73 billion in the last Iranian year. During this period, Iran exported 112 million tons of goods worth about $35 billion and imported 33.4 million tons worth $38.4 billion.