(IRNA) - Pakistani businessmen must increase rice exports to Iran, said Mohammad Sadegh Moffateh, the visiting deputy commerce minister of Iran on Tuesday.
Currently Pakistani annual rice exports stands at two hundred thousand tons.
Moffateh told a news conference at the Iranian embassy that there is a dire need to increase export of Pakistani rice to Iran.
He said Iran wants to increase bilateral trade with Pakistan to one billion dollars, saying that enhanced trade ties will help further promote relations in other fields.
He said Iran wishes to increase bilateral trade up-to one billion dollars, which currently stands at 650 million dollars, reports Trend.
The present level of trade is not up-to the potential the two countries have, he said.
He said Iran gives priority to importing Pakistani rice as Islamabad is a good partner in rice deal.
He said Iran is ready to facilitate Pakistani exports to Central Asia and Russia, saying Iran could be a transit route for Pakistani exports to Central Asian states.
He said there is no trade rivalry between Pakistan and Iran.
Both the countries are good neighbours, enjoying deep cultural and religious relations.
To a question about Iran's decision to adopt euro instead of dollar, he said there is no specific reason for the decision but the decision has been taken to facilitate trade.
Euro is priority but there are no restrictions on trade in dollar, he said.
He said Iran is engaged in talks with Pakistan to open banks in Pakistan.
To a question about the gas price of the proposed multi-billion dollar Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project, he said that a Pakistani team is in Iran to discuss the issue.