Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA), which is considered as Iran’s private sector parliament, has urged the need for establishment of free and preferential trade agreements with Bolivia.
ICCIMA Vice President Hossein Selahvarzi said that the level of trade relations between Iran and Bolivia is lagging behind their political relations.
Speaking during a meeting in Tehran with visiting Bolivian Deputy Foreign Minister Freddy Mamani, Selahvarzi referred to agreements reached between the chambers of commerce of Iran and Bolivia six years ago, regretting that the agreements have not become operational yet largely due to the far distance between the two countries.
He however believed that Iran and Bolivia can develop strong trade relations if they are determined enough.
Selahvarzi said that Iran can have cooperation with Bolivia in different areas including technical and engineering services, human and animal drugs, agricultural machinery, mines, construction materials, and petrochemical products.
Referring to some problems on the way of banking and financial transactions, he proposed for devising a barter trade mechanism to facilitate trade between the two countries.
The Bolivian side, for his part, said that unilateral decisions of certain Western countries have caused problems which are hindering trade exchanges between Iran and Bolivia as well as banking issues.
Mamani said that Cuba and Venezuela are also facing the same problems.
The official said that he has been warned that a visit to Iran may put him on a blacklist, noting that there are the same problems for the Bolivian companies.
He noted that Iran and Bolivia have no choice but to devise a special mechanism for bilateral trade.