Mohsen Zarrabi, the chairman of Iran-Oman Joint Chamber of Commerce, said on Wednesday that the two countries need an economic roadmap for enhancement of bilateral cooperation.
Zarrabi made the remarks during a meeting in Tehran between a visiting Omani delegation and Iranian economic activists.
He said that Iran’s exports to Oman during the first seven months of the fiscal year has grown by 75% compared to the corresponding period from the preceding year.
Iran’s imports from Oman has also increased by 45% during the seven-month period, Zarrabi said, expressing hope that the volume of trade between Iran and Oman will grow to more than $1 billion.
He said that the two countries enjoy high economic potentials for cooperation. He however noted that there are many hurdles on the way of trade between Iran and Oman, including the high cost of transit of goods and money transfer.
“Direct flights used to operate between Oman and nine Iranian provinces and we had a daily flight from Tehran to Oman,” Zarrabi said. He added that these facilities have been removed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease.
Noting that there are advanced pharmaceutical factories in Iran which can export pharmaceutical equipment to Oman, Zarrabi also noted that Iranian products can be re-exported to other countries from Oman.
In the meantime, Zahir bin Mohammed Al Kaabi, a board member of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry who led the Omani delegation, said that the Sultan of Oman is increasingly eager to boost relations with Iran.
He noted that Iran and Oman can cooperate on different areas such as industry, Mine, fishery, tourism, trade, and foodstuff.
He said that businesspersons from both countries can devise mechanisms in the sanctions time so that Iranian commodities can be re-exported from Oman to Persian Gulf and African countries.