TEHRAN - Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) hosted an Iran-Russia business forum on Monday, the ICCIMA portal reported.

The event was attended by officials and businesspersons from both sides.

Speaking in this gathering, ICCIMA Deputy Head Ghadir Qiafeh said the volume of trade between Iran and Russia is expected to reach $40 billion within 10 to 15 years.

The forum took place as a Russian trade delegation is in the Iranian capital to attend Iran Expo 2024.

The official said that, Iran and Russia together can gain access to a 2,000-billion-dollar market.

He however regretted that the two neighboring countries have not been able to make use of their potentials in bilateral exchanges.

Underlining the role of the customs administrations of both Iran and Russia in enhancement of bilateral trade, he said that customs agreements called “green corridor” were signed by the two countries seven years ago.

Qiafeh also hailed Iran’s preferential trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) which he said can give a further boost to trade between Tehran and Moscow.

In the meantime, Leonid Lozhechko, Chairman of the Russian-Iranian Business Council, said that measures are underway for facilitating trade between Iran and Russia, adding that Russian SMEs have very good relations with Iran.

Referring to preferential agreement recently signed between Iran and the EAEU bloc, he said that once the agreement is put into practice, trade with Iran will be much easier.

EF/