Singaporean Non-Resident Ambassador to Iran Ong Keng Yong said that in spite of the sanctions on the Iranian economy, Iran and Singapore can boost their cooperation in the areas of food and medicine.
Ambassador Yong and President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholam Hossein Shafei had a meeting in Tehran on Monday where they explored ways to expand bilateral trade.
The president of Iran Chamber of Commerce said that although the sanctions on Tehran have caused difficulty on the way of trade between Iran and Singapore, fortunately the Singaporean companies have maintained their relations with their Iranian trade partners.
He said that the Singaporean companies are present in Iranian free trade zones and oil projects, expressing hope that the two countries will find proper ways to respond to the eagerness of economic activists on both sides to continue with their relations.
Shafei noted that Iran’s position in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Singapore’s presence in The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as the two countries’ agreements for free and preferential trade with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) provides good chances for facilitating trade between Iran and Singapore.
He noted that as the COVID restrictions are gradually easing, Iran Chamber of Commerce is ready to dispatch delegations to Singapore and receive delegations from the country.
The Singaporean ambassador, for his part, referred to his country’s port facilities, noting that Singapore is the world’s second largest sea port hub.
Apart from transportation advantages, Singapore has turned into a hub for redistribution of food products which can play a key role in the supply chain, the ambassador said.
Ambassador Yong said that the sanctions can hardly affect the food and agricultural industries and therefore Iran and Singapore should make efforts to facilitate exports of food and fertilizers from Iran to other nations.
He also said that the pharmaceutical sector is another area in which Iran and Singapore can cooperate.
Singapore can have a facilitating role in the transfer of pharmaceutical items from Iran and India to ASEAN countries and play an active role in the supply chain, the ambassador said.