TEHRAN - Russian Consul General in Isfahan Andrey Zhiltsov has highlighted the need to increase the trade volume between Iran and Russia, saying the current trade volume does not live up to the capacities.

Zhiltsov said in an exclusive interview with IRNA that the trade volume between Iran and Russia is a little over four billion dollars, which is insignificant considering the existing capacity.

He said the joint Iran-Russia economic commission emphasized the need to expand bilateral cooperation in space, aviation, shipbuilding, peaceful nuclear energy, oil and gas production and refining, transportation, science, medicine, agriculture, finance, education, culture, and tourism sectors.

He also pointed out that some 6.5 million Russian tourists visited Turkiye in 2023, but only 10,000 Russians toured Iran in the same year, calling for joint efforts to increase the figure.

The consul general also noted that the two friendly states could play a key role in creating a new world order free from unilateralism to guarantee a just world.

In the current situation, Iran and Russia’s support for each other at the international level is of great importance, he said, adding that holding different economic, political, scientific, and sports events is a strategic endeavor to this end.

Zhiltsov also referred to the articulation of a roadmap to pave the way for improving cooperation between Iran’s Isfahan and Russia’s Tatarstan cities, adding that the Russian consulate general in Isfahan plans to expand collaborations with Iran’s chamber of commerce, higher education, and religious centers.

He also noted that the two sides intend to develop relations among different Russian regions with Iranian provinces such as Yazd and Kerman.

The Russian official noted that Isfahan is a wonderful, cultural, authentic, clean, cozy, and comfortable city, and called for more cooperation between Isfahan and Saint Petersburg.

The value of Iran’s exports to Russia rose 26 percent in the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19), as compared to the preceding year, an official with Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) said.

Akbar Godari said that 2.185 million tons of products worth $946 million were exported to Russia in the previous Iranian year, while a year earlier the Islamic Republic had exported only 1.436 million tons of goods valued at $751 million to the country.

According to the official, Iran’s exports to Russia also increased by 56 percent in terms of weight during the previous year.

Agricultural products, petrochemicals, and oil-based products were the top exported products to Russia in the mentioned year.

Referring to the volume of imports from Russia in the past year, Godari stated: “3.353 million tons of goods worth $1.691 billion were also imported from Russia in the previous year.”

The imports have grown by nine percent in terms of value and 27 percent in terms of weight, he said.

In line with the two countries’ determination to increase the level of trade exchanges, during a video conference meeting between the deputy transport ministers of Iran and Russia on November 28, 2023, the two sides discussed ways of increasing annual transit through Iran to 10 million tons.

In this virtual meeting, the two sides discussed transportation cooperation between the two countries in all areas including rail, road, and sea.

Speaking in this meeting, Iranian Deputy Transport Minister Shahryiar Afandizadeh referred to the high potential for port cooperation between the two countries, especially in the Caspian Sea, and noted that there is a good capacity in Iran’s northern ports for receiving goods sent from Russia and sending them to desired destinations using combined transportation methods.

The officials also discussed the Rasht-Astara railway project and the representative of the Iranian contractor of the project, namely the Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructures Company, presented a report on the project’s physical progress.

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

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