Iran, Belarus Broaden Economic, Agricultural Cooperation
September 10, 2000 - 0:0
TEHRAN Iran and Belarus signed six memoranda of understanding (MOU) on economic, technical, agricultural, scientific and research cooperation at the end of the third Iran-Belarus Joint Economic Commission meeting in Minsk, said Commerce Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari here on Saturday.
Speaking with IRNA, the minister described talks with Belarus officials as positive' and said that the Ministry of Commerce is eager to increase the volume of trade as well as bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Belarus in a bid to make the balance of trade with that country positive.
At the meeting, the two sides also signed an MOU on aviation cooperation and the fifth right protocol which is of high importance to both the countries.
The draft agreement on banking cooperation between the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and Belarus National Bank for opening a special buy back account will enable the two countries to annually exchange $10 million worth of goods.
Setting up a bank branch in Minsk, cooperating in holding trade fairs and enjoying special discounts were among the other agreements reached between the two countries.
Some 44 Belarus companies are to take part at the 26th Tehran International Trade Fair and the second exclusive Belarus fair on technological know-how and science to be held in Tehran, he said.
Based on the agreement, the Iranian made products will be distributed in Belarus stores, he said.
On oil and petrochemical cooperation it was agreed that Iran will purchase some $15 million worth of nitrate and phosphate fertilizers from Belarus and will repay 50 percent of its value from export of oil while the remaining will come from exports of non-oil commodities, he said.
Value of trade exchanges between the two countries has increased from $60,000 to $20 million per year, he said.
Setting up the Persian language course at Minsk University, bilateral cooperation on education and research, joint Chamber of Commerce, reinsurance, telecommunications, manufacturing of semiconductors, electronic devices, auto and agricultural parts were among the agreements reached during the visit of the Iranian delegation to Belarus, said the minister.
The third Iran-Belarus Joint Economic Commission session was held in Minsk from September 3-6.
(IRNA)
Speaking with IRNA, the minister described talks with Belarus officials as positive' and said that the Ministry of Commerce is eager to increase the volume of trade as well as bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Belarus in a bid to make the balance of trade with that country positive.
At the meeting, the two sides also signed an MOU on aviation cooperation and the fifth right protocol which is of high importance to both the countries.
The draft agreement on banking cooperation between the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and Belarus National Bank for opening a special buy back account will enable the two countries to annually exchange $10 million worth of goods.
Setting up a bank branch in Minsk, cooperating in holding trade fairs and enjoying special discounts were among the other agreements reached between the two countries.
Some 44 Belarus companies are to take part at the 26th Tehran International Trade Fair and the second exclusive Belarus fair on technological know-how and science to be held in Tehran, he said.
Based on the agreement, the Iranian made products will be distributed in Belarus stores, he said.
On oil and petrochemical cooperation it was agreed that Iran will purchase some $15 million worth of nitrate and phosphate fertilizers from Belarus and will repay 50 percent of its value from export of oil while the remaining will come from exports of non-oil commodities, he said.
Value of trade exchanges between the two countries has increased from $60,000 to $20 million per year, he said.
Setting up the Persian language course at Minsk University, bilateral cooperation on education and research, joint Chamber of Commerce, reinsurance, telecommunications, manufacturing of semiconductors, electronic devices, auto and agricultural parts were among the agreements reached during the visit of the Iranian delegation to Belarus, said the minister.
The third Iran-Belarus Joint Economic Commission session was held in Minsk from September 3-6.
(IRNA)