TEHRAN - President Hassan Rouhani has said Iran and Thailand could double bilateral trade in the near future by implementing agreements and joint projects.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok on Sunday.

During the meeting, Rouhani underlined the need to facilitate banking cooperation between the two countries as a means to foster economic ties, president.ir reported.

He added that both sides are taking preparatory steps to sign a preferential trade agreement.

Iran and Thailand are apt to boost trade in oil, gas, petrochemicals, fishery, road construction, automobile parts manufacturing, and agriculture sectors, Rouhani noted.

Thailand can serve as a bridge to connect Iran to East Asia, he said, adding, Iran can be the best gateway for Thailand to get access to Central Asia, Caucasus and Europe.

Rouhani asserted that the two countries are better to resume direct flights to ease mutual ties in the field of tourism.

Chan-o-cha, for his part, stressed that the Thai government is resolved to boost cooperation with Iran and noted that educational, cultural and scientific ties between the two sides should be expanded at the same pace with political and economic ties, Shana news agency reported.

President Rouhani’s visit to Thailand is part of his Southeast Asian tour that took him to Vietnam and Malaysia earlier this week.

‘Iran-Thailand trade can hit $10b’

Meanwhile, Gholam-Hossein Shafe’i, the chairman of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) has said probabilities are high for both countries to boost trade up to $10 billion in the future.

“The Islamic Republic has just a $99 million share of Thailand’s $200 billion market, and Thailand’s stake in Iran’s $78 billion market is just $115 million,” ICCIMA website quoted Shafe’i as saying on Sunday.

Addressing the Iran-Thailand business forum in Bangkok, Shafe’i said, “Iran can export bitumen and oil derivatives as well as copper and chemical fertilizers to Thailand and import auto parts, agricultural, technological, and electronic products.” 

The Iran-Thailand business forum was attended by President of The Thai Chamber of Commerce Kissana Vongsay, a representative from Iran Central Bank, and an economic representative from Iranian embassy in Thailand.

During the meeting, the two sides explored ways to expand economic ties in the future and agreed to form a committee to follow up relevant issues. A list of goods possible for future trade between the two countries is also to be prepared, accordingly. 

HJ/MA/MG