President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Hossein Selahvarzi says Iran and Ivory Coast have to take executive measures to enhance bilateral trade relations.
Selahvarzi made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran with Ivory Coast Ambassador to Iran Tamakolo Ouattara where they explored ways for further expansion of trade relations.
Speaking during the meeting, the Ivory Coast ambassador congratulated Selahvarzi for being elected as the new president of Iran Chamber of Commerce.
He said that Iran and Ivory Coast enjoy huge potentials for cooperation while the level of their trade cooperation does not match with their potentials.
The ambassador noted that the lack of a shipping line between Iran’s Bandar Abbas Port and Abidjan as well as the absence of a direct flight between the two countries are hampering bilateral trade exchanges.
Referring to his country’s strategic position providing access to an 82-million-population of the surrounding countries, he called on Iran to make use of this potential.
He noted that the Iranian products are sent to Ivory Coast indirectly through Turkiye, calling on the Iranian officials to devise mechanisms so their products can be sent to Ivory Coast directly.
The president of Iran Chamber of Commerce, for his part, referred to Iran’s capacities in providing techno-engineering and infrastructure services, saying that the Iranian private sector is ready to help Ivory Coast in road building, house construction, power plant and refinery development, and launching fuel stations.
He added that Iran can also provide Ivory Coast with different services in the field of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, petrochemicals and packing of food products.
Selahvarzi said that Iran Chamber of Commerce will encourage Iranian companies to participate in Ivory Coast expos in 2023 and 2024.
He invited his Ivory Coast counterpart to Iran, expressing his own readiness to visit Ivory Coast at the head of an Iranian trade delegation.