TEHRAN – Suitcase trade between Iran and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) rose over 70 percent in spring, which corresponds to the first quarter of Iranian calendar year, compared to the same period of time last year.

Iran-CIS suitcase trade’s value increased to $28 million in the first quarter of this year from $16 million in the first quarter of the previous year, the ISNA news agency reported on Sunday.

Suitcase trade between Iran and CIS stood at $82.815 million in the past Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20.

Iran’s annual non-oil trade amounted to $150 billion in the previous calendar year.

On April 5, Iranian Deputy Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Mojtaba Khosrotaj said the country’s value of annual non-oil exports is planned to rise by 20 percent and reach $60 billion in the current Iranian calendar year.

MA/