TEHRAN - Iran and Belarus have signed several memorandums of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the oil and agricultural sectors in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Tuesday, Shana reported.

The MOU on the oil cooperation was signed by Iranian Oil Minister Javad Oji and Belarus’s Belneftekhim Chairman Andrei Rybakov on the sidelines of a meeting between Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko.

Based on the MOU, Iran will export technical and engineering services, oil equipment, and petrochemical products to Belarus, and the two countries will cooperate in the technology-related fields and use a barter system to trade.

During his meeting with Golovchenko, Mokhber said the expansion of Tehran-Minsk relations over the past two years is expected to serve the two nations’ economic and commercial interests, as well.

The first vice president added that the two countries' trade volume could increase to $1 billion per year.

Cooperation in agriculture sector

Three cooperation documents were also inked between Iran and Belarus in the fields of forestry, veterinary medicine and animal husbandry, Iran’s minister of agriculture said on Wednesday.

Mohammad-Ali Nikbakht, who accompanied Mohammad Mokhber on his visit to Belarus, said the two countries enjoy high potentials and capabilities to boost their ties in all fields, especially trade, economy, forestry, and animal husbandry.

Iran’s major portion of potash fertilizer is supplied from Belarus, the agricultural minister said, adding, “In return, Iran exports agricultural and horticultural products including fresh fruits and vegetables, and various kinds of dried nuts and citrus fruits.”

Mokhber visited Belarus on Tuesday at the head of a high-ranking trade and economic delegation and at the official invitation of the prime minister of Belarus to discuss bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest.

Oil Minister Javad Oji, Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Abbas Ali-Abadi, and Agriculture Minister Mohammad-Ali Nikbakht accompanied Mokhber during a one-day visit to Belarus.

Iran and Belarus signed a comprehensive cooperation roadmap and seven memorandums of understanding in mid-March, as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko made a visit to Tehran.

The cooperation roadmap and MOUs include various commercial, transportation, agricultural and cultural fields.

The roadmap was signed by the presidents of the two countries, while the MOUs were inked by senior officials from the two sides.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Belarusian counterpart after signing the document, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said: "Good agreements were made in the field of industry, mining, trade, agriculture, roads and various fields, and we hope that it will be a step towards the development of the two countries."

Referring to the determination of Iran and Belarus to develop relations in all fields, Raisi said: "Both countries are against unilateralism. We believe that independent countries can have good relations with each other which lead to the neutralization of sanctions."

Lukashenko, for his part, pointed to his last visit to Iran in 2006 and said that no sanctions or pressures have been able to stop the Iranian nation from progressing, and it is a fact that an independent and strong Iran is continuing its path.

Referring to the MOUs between the two countries, Lukashenko noted that if all these MOUs are implemented, the two countries can achieve $100 million of annual trade. 

"The volume of trade between the two countries tripled in 2022 compared to 2021," he noted.

The Belarusian president expressed hope that the implementation of the comprehensive cooperation roadmap will help develop the relations between the two countries even more.

As part of the Belarusian delegation’s schedule in Tehran, the country’s Minister of Industry Rogozhnik Alexander Nikolaevich met with former Iranian Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Reza Fatemi-Amin to discuss ways of developing mutual ties. 

During the meeting with Nikolaevich, who was accompanied by a group of industrial officials, Fatemi-Amin referred to the cooperation of the Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI) with its Belarusian counterpart and also an agreement between banks of the two countries, emphasizing that the infrastructure needed for the development of trade between the two countries has been created.

He stated that an agreement on the possibility of barter trade between the two countries is also going to be signed soon, adding: “With the full accession of Iran to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in less than a year from now 80 percent of the tariffs between the two countries will be zeroed.

The minister further invited Nikolaevich and his team to visit the exhibition of Iran's export capabilities, which will be held with the presence of ministers and trade delegations from more than 50 countries in Tehran on May 7-10.

Nikolaevich in his turn said Belarus pays special attention to the expansion of trade relations with Iran.

“In the days when both countries have been subjected to heavy and cruel sanctions, we must make a double effort to defeat the sanctions,” Nikolaevich suggested.

Stating that with Iran's joining the EAEU, many issues in the field of transportation will be resolved, he emphasized: “Our goal is for Iranian products to flourish in the Belarusian market and Belarusian products to enter the Iranian market.”

EF/MA

Photo: Iranian Oil Minister Javad Oji (L) and Belarus’s Belneftekhim Chairman Andrei Rybakov sign MOU documents in Minsk on Tuesday