TEHRAN Iranian Ambassador to Yerevan said here Thursday that since the end of the first quarter of the year 2001 non-oil products valued at some $62 million have been exported to Armenia.

Mohammad Farhad Koleyi said the exported products included various types of vegetable oils, detergents, dried fruits and nuts, construction materials, carpets and tobacco leaves.

He forecast that by taking into consideration the amount of "suitcase trade" between the two countries, the level of exports from Iran to Armenia would rise this year.

He added that by reviewing the commercial problems in-between, "we have been able to increase the trade balance between the two countries from 19 percent to 35-40 percent."

Koleyni put the level of trade between East Azarbaijan Province (north-east Iran) and Armenia at about $8 million in 1998 and 1999 and added that by providing the necessary means, the trade figure rose to $36 million last year.