Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Mines has taken preliminary steps for the establishment of joint business councils with North and Latin America, the ICCIM chairman stated here on Saturday.
Mohammad Nahavandian told ISNA that business councils will be formed with the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and Latin America as well.
Dispatching trade delegations, holding exhibitions, publicizing and facilitating trade between the parties are within the scope of activity of the councils, Nahavandian noted.
"Iran currently has trade relations with Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. and intends to boost multilateral economic relations," he explained.
Iran and Canada have already established a joint business council.
The U.S. exported $96 million in goods to Iran from January through April, according to an Associated Press analysis of U.S. government trade data compiled by the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research. U.S. exports to Iran totaled $51 million during the same period in 2008 and $27 million over those months in 2007.
Mexico and Iran do not at this time have extensive economic relations. However, they have sought to develop their bilateral trade over recent years as both countries seek alternative markets. Particularly since 2008 and the global economic downturn, Mexico has been more willing to find alternative markets that could help distance its economy from the United States.