Brazilian Ambassador to Tehran Laudemar Gonsalves de Aguiar Neto said on Saturday that the lack of mutual recognition is the main obstacle on the way of bilateral trade between Iran and Brazil.
The ambassador made the remarks during a visit to Zanjan Chamber of Commerce in Central Iran.
He said that although the sanctions on Tehran are a main hurdle on the way of trade between the two countries, the number one obstacle hindering bilateral trade is the lack of mutual recognition.
He urged the need for businesspersons on both sides to participate in exhibitions in the other country.
Iran is the biggest trade partner of Brazil in the Middle East, the ambassador said, voicing Brasilia’s readiness to enhance trade with Iran and increase exports to the country.
He said that Brazil’s exports to Iran has doubled this year against the year before, noting that the country’s imports from Iran have also increased.
He put the volume of direct trade between the two countries at $4 billion.
Noting that the trade balance of Iran and Brazil is largely to the benefit of Brazil, the ambassador said that in order for the exports to increase, the imports also need to be expanded.
Head of Zanjan Chamber of Commerce Ali Yeganehfard, said for his part that the huge capacity of Brazil in the areas of agriculture, mines, production, and services has put the country among the target markets for Zanjan Province.
He also referred to an MoU signed earlier today with Iran-Brazil Joint Chamber of Commerce which he said could pave the way for dispatching trade delegations from the province to Brazil.
In the meantime, the Chairman of Iran-Brazil Joint Chamber of Commerce Fakhreddin Amerian, who was also present in the meeting, said that this joint chamber of commerce was founded in Tehran five years ago and opened an office in Brazil last year, ever since Iran’s exports to Brazil have doubled.
Despite the fact that Brazil is an importer of fruits, Iran has not yet taken any action to export fruits to the country, Amerian said.
Referring to production of an annual 160,000 tons of apples in Zanjan Province, he expressed hope that the province could export apple to Brazil and import tropical fruits in exchange.
Noting that an annual 35,000 tons of raisins is produced in Zanjan, he said that Brazil is a major raisin importer and can be a good market for Zanjan’s raisins.