Tehran, Iran, Dec. 20
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Iranian exporters have no information about the Russian market, Head of Iran's Garden Owners Union Mojtaba Shadlou said.
He said that even the government doesn't provide exporters with the necessary information, Iran's Mizan News Agency reported on Dec. 20.
"There are problems with packaging and prices. Iranians don't have enough knowledge of the other sides of the markets, which cause such problems," the official said.
"The Russians want to pay Iranian businesspersons with ruble. Considering the falling trend of the value of ruble, this way may not be profitable for Iranians," he said, adding that Iranian businesspersons want to receive US dollar.
Shadlou went on to note that the union's representatives are expected to hold a meeting with a Russian delegation in the near future to discuss the present problems.
Head of Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce Assadollah Asgaroladi said on Dec. 16 that Iranian officials expected the country's exports to Russia to be increased threefold in just 6 months, but the goal has not been achieved.
"Our exports to Moscow have increased by 20-30 percent in the past six months," he said.
"Bank transfers, as well as transit and visa issues are among the main obstacles for expansion of bilateral trades between the two countries," he said.
Asgaroladi said on September 30 that the chamber is studying a plan to replace US dollar with the two country's national currencies - rial and ruble - in bilateral trades.
"A Russian bank is supposed to establish a branch in Tehran, transferring the money to businesspersons at the exchange rate of free market," he explained.
Iran's Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati said on Dec. 16 that preparations have been made for exporting dairy products and other food stuff to Russia.
"The ministry will help private companies to increase their exports to Moscow," he said.
Russia has issued licenses for 18 Iranian companies to export fisheries to Moscow.
The Head of Iran Fisheries Organization Hasan Salehi said on Dec. 8 that Iran will send the first consignment of fisheries to Russia in the next 20 days.
During an official visit to Tehran by a high-ranking Russian delegation, the country officially requested Iran to increase its agricultural products and food stuff exports to Moscow in order to meet the country's domestic demands.
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