TEHRAN – Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) on Monday hosted a gathering of Iranian and Belarusian businessmen and officials in which the two sides discussed challenges and ways of expanding economic cooperation.

The event was attended by Belarus’ Deputy Industry Minister Haritonchik Dmitry Ivanovich, the country’s Ambassador to Tehran Dmitry Koltsov, and Head of TCCIMA Industry and Mining Committee Ali Naqib, the TCCIMA portal reported.

During the forum, the two sides emphasized the need for the development of cooperation in the field of industry, especially in the machinery sector, as well as foodstuff, livestock, and agriculture for boosting trade relations between the two countries.

Addressing the forum, Naqib referred to the low level of economic relations between the two countries in recent years and underlined some fields including consumer goods and the industrial sector as potential areas for the development of trade relations.

He said the export of industrial products from Belarus to Iran, especially machinery, as well as food and livestock products, will contribute to the development of relations between the two countries.

The official also mentioned the recent developments regarding the joining of Iran in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), noting that this would be a great opportunity for the expansion of economic relations between Iran and Belarus.

In this conference, Koltsov also referred to Iran as a valuable economic partner of his country and emphasized joint production and technology transfer as areas for strengthening mutual economic relations between the two countries.

Ivanovich for his part stressed the need for the expansion of cooperation between the private sectors and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the two sides.

He noted that the private companies of this country, which are considered among SMEs, account for the lion's share of products and services in Belarus.

Emphasizing that Belarusian industrial companies are looking for stable and reliable partners in Iran to establish long-term cooperation, Ivanovich said: “Joint production, assembly of products in the markets of both countries and exports to nearby markets are among the strategies of Belarus Industry Ministry in cooperation with Iran.”

EF/MA