The existence of banking problems and the lack of a direct flight between Iran and Uganda are preventing the two countries from developing economic exchanges, a representative of Iran private sector said on Sunday.
Mohammad Reza Karbasi, the deputy for International Affairs of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA), made the remarks during a visit to ICCIMA by a Ugandan trade delegation.
The delegation comprised of Ugandan businesspersons active in different areas including, food production, agriculture, exports of coffee, agricultural machinery, construction and engineering, and road and housing.
With rich mining resources and untapped oil and gas resources and very fertile soil, Uganda enjoys special capacities in eastern Africa, Karbasi said.
Referring to Iran’s industrial products and Uganda’s import needs, he said that the economies of the two countries can complement each other.
Having rail and road potentials and significant trade ports in the Persian Gulf, Iran can provide Uganda’s access to Central Asian countries, the Caucasus, Russia and Iraq, Karbasi said, noting that Uganda can also serve as a gateway for Iran to East Africa.
He regretted that trade exchanges between Iran and Uganda are lagging behind the existing capacities, especially as the two countries are member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Karbasi also noted that Iran and Uganda can cooperate on extra-territorial cultivation.
Also speaking during the meeting, Ugandan Ambassador to Iran Muhammad Tezikuba Kisambira said that the visit to Iran by the Ugandan delegation served as a good ice breaker in relations between the two countries.
He called for a direct flight between Iran and Uganda to resume operating again.
Referring to the media hype against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kisambira said that his country does not care about such media hype.