Vice-President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Hossein Selahvarzi said on Monday that in order to promote relations between Iran and Serbia, the two countries need to do their utmost to remove the banking and customs obstacles on the way of bilateral ties.
Selahvarzi, who is visiting Serbia as part of an Iranian trade delegation to Belgrade, made the remarks during a top trade meeting of Iran and Serbia in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) where the two countries discussed further chances of cooperation.
He also underlined the need for both Iran and Serbia to create a data bank of the potentials for further cooperation between the companies from the two countries.
Representative from some 65 Serbian companies active in different industrial, agricultural and ICT sectors as well as different government officials were present at the meeting.
The vice-president of Iran Chamber of Commerce said that the Iranian private sector enjoys full support of the Iranian government for further enhancement of relations with Serbia and will do every effort in this regard.
Referring to the potentials for widespread cooperation between Tehran and Belgrade, Selahvarzi said that although the volume of trade between the two countries is lagging behind cordial political relations, the rising cooperation and the recently made agreements are promising of a bright future for bilateral relations.
Joint commercial committee
Selahvarzi also voiced the readiness of the Iranian private sector to launch a joint commercial committee with Serbia, noting that the Iran Chamber of Commerce will actively participate in offering creative solutions to the obstacles on the way of bilateral trade.
During the meeting in the Serbian capital, both sides exchanged views and reached agreements on active presence in trade exhibitions and other commercial events of one another and to establish a connection line between the chambers of commerce of the two countries.
Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic (L) and Vice-President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Hossein Selahvarzi meet in Belgrade, Serbia July 11, 2022.
Serbia favors increased volume of trade with Iran
Also as part of the visit to Belgrade by the Iranian major trade delegation, Selahvarzi and Head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Alireza Peimanpak, had a meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic earlier in the day.
Speaking during the meeting, the Serbian foreign minister stressed that his country is fully resolved to give a boost to economic relations with Iran.
Selakovic said that the volume of trade between the two countries can be increased and Serbia supports more enhanced relations with Tehran.
A joint economic cooperation commission of the two countries is scheduled to be held in Tehran in the near future, the foreign minister said, adding that the necessary preparations for a visit to Iran by the Serbian foreign minister will also be made.