Armenia-Iran Trade Reached $120m Last Year
Announcing this, the head of Iran-Armenia Commerce Chamber's Board of Directors Levon Aharonian told reporters here on Sunday that Iran is the third major trade partner of Armenia after Russia and Belgium.
Aharonian said Iran's exports to Armenian made up about $90 million of the total trade transactions between the two countries, IRNA reported.
Armenia's foreign trade in the first quarter of 2002 rose by 27.1 percent compared to the figure for the same period last year.
He said based on statistics, Armenia's exports in the period under study showed 56.6 percent growth compared to that in the corresponding period last year, standing at $120.1 million.
Volume of the country's imports in the period rose by 14.4 percent, standing at $204.4 million.
The Armenian official said conditions were ripe in his country for building more extensive commercial relations with Iran. He said Armenia enjoys the advantage for surface transportation due to its common borders with Iran and the political and economic stability.
He added that producers of good in Iran can create a good market for Iranian-made goods in Armenia and even in the Caucasus and west of the Black Sea.
Aharonian referred to the first specialized fair of Iran's construction equipment in Armenia, and said at the request of Yerevan mayor, the first specialized fair of Iran's construction equipment is to be held in Armenia from September 27 to October 4.
He said Iran meets all Armenia's demand for detergents and oil but unfortunately, Iran's exports to Armenia have dropped by about six percent since the start of 2002 compared to the figure for the same period last year.
Elsewhere in the interview, Aharonian said Iran's customs tariffs are heavy for import of goods from Armenia and full exemption of the tariffs would lead to promotion of mutual commercial cooperation.
On a proposal by head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines, the tariff on 30 Armenian exported goods would be reduced so as to provide the ground for their exports to Iran, said the Armenian official.
Aharonian said Iranian companies investing in Armenia would be exempted from taxes for 15 years.
He said different Iranian companies have expressed willingness to undertake commercial activities in Armenia and Iran's commercial center is expanding in the country.