TEHRAN- Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Chairman Mohsen Jalalpour stressed the necessity of establishing direct air and shipping lines between Iran and Lebanon.

The official made the remarks in a Monday meeting with Lebanese Minister of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil in Tehran, according to the IRNA news agency.

Jalalpour also said establishment of some joint Iranian-Lebanese companies in the agriculture, construction, electricity and tourism sectors as well as in the field of medical equipment is important for the expansion of trade ties between the two countries.

For his part, Khalil, who arrived in Tehran on Sunday heading a 15-strong delegation of Lebanese officials and traders, said travel of this high-ranking delegation to Iran indicates Lebanon’s eagerness to boost economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic.

He expressed hope that barriers such as the West-led sanctions against Iran, which have reduced Iran-Lebanon economic ties over the recent years, will be removed as soon as possible.

The official also called for the exchange of information between Iran and Lebanon for more access to the investment opportunities.

He further announced that the experienced Lebanese companies are ready to cooperate with the Iranian private sector in the fields of exports and also industrial services.

Khalil put the value of Iran-Lebanon annual trade value at $50 million and the worth of Lebanon’s annual exports to Iran at $3 million; saying that trade between the two countries has experienced a falling trend over the past years; therefore bilateral cooperation should be expanded in the coming years.

Lebanon was the 35th leading importer of Iranian non-oil goods in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21- October 22), according to Iran Customs Administration.

Iran exported $41.487 million worth of non-oil products to Lebanon and imported $19.143 million worth of non-oil goods from the country in the seven-month period.

Lebanon was also the 34th major importer of Iranian non-oil products in the past Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, by importing $75.83 million of non-oil goods from Iran.
Lebanon exported $34.466 million of non-oil products to Iran in the past year.

MA/