Iran Chamber of Commerce president says the chamber is determined to expand trade relations with Indonesia, citing the two countries’ large Muslim populations and untapped potential in sectors ranging from halal industries to engineering services.
Speaking during a meeting with Indonesian Ambassador to Tehran Rulyansyah Soemirat, Hassanzadeh said that Iran’s unilateral decision to waive visas for Indonesian citizens could help deepen economic ties, tourism and medical tourism, calling for easier issuance of commercial visas for Iranian traders.
The chamber chief said Iran’s private sector was ready to take part in large-scale engineering and technical service projects in Indonesia, adding that closer cooperation between the two countries’ chambers of commerce could help facilitate joint ventures.
He said Iran had strong export potential in a range of products, including steel, bitumen, chemical products, power plant equipment, dried fruits, machine-made carpets and handicrafts, lead, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, aluminium, building stones, tiles, ceramics and glass. Iranian products, he said, were produced to high standards and at competitive prices.
Hassanzadeh also said Indonesia could help meet Iran’s needs in areas such as timber, motorcycles, fresh and frozen seafood, vegetable oils, industrial machinery and equipment, adding that Tehran was open to preferential trade arrangements or barter deals.
For his part, Ambassador Soemirat said his mission was to expand engagement with Iran’s chamber and provincial chambers to identify new areas of cooperation. He said Jakarta was seeking to smooth cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors and bring them closer together.
Soemirat noted that bilateral trade remained far below a stated target of $20 billion and said an already signed preferential trade agreement should be implemented as soon as possible. He added that steps were under way to remove visa requirements with Iran and to issue business visas for Iranian nationals.
He believed that meaningful cooperation between the two countries can take shape if Iran becomes a hub for the Eurasian region and Indonesia a hub for ASEAN trade.