ArmInfo.There is a serious potential for the development of Armenian-Iranian trade relations, Armenian Ambassador to Iran Artashes Tumanyan is convinced.
Thus, in an interview with ISNA clarifying the progress in the Armenian-Iranian trade relations, especially in the context of interaction within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, the ambassador noted that a separate interview should be held in order to fully describe both the work done and the work ahead. The diplomat recalled that in recent years, the annual trade turnover between the two countries amounted to several hundred million dollars. "At the same time, this is mainly the import of Iranian goods to Armenia, while the export was very small. The reasons are known. They are related both to the economic opportunities of both sides, and the current trade regimes and a number of restrictions (high customs duties, import-export bans etc.).
Despite the fact that a lot of work has been done to raise mutual awareness between the enterprises of the two countries (numerous meetings, exhibitions, business forums, etc.), much remains to be done, "the ambassador said.
At the same time, he stated that, of course, among the favorable factors are Armenia's membership in the EAEU, certain trade benefits with a number of EU countries, as well as the adoption of an agreement on the creation of a temporary free trade zone with Iran (2019), and naturally, Iran's significant economic potential.
"By the way, from the point of view of the export of Iranian goods among the countries of the region (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, etc.) Armenia, with a population of about three million people, is in first place (in terms of the volume of imports of Iranian goods per capita of the RA). This means that the business environment in Armenia is favorable for Iranian business, "the ambassador said, adding that there is no doubt that there is serious potential for the development of bilateral economic relations. According to Tumanyan, in this sense, the expected events in the field of transport communication (railways, highways) can play a significant impact.
"Thus, we can hope that for our countries the coming years will become a period of development of relations, deepening cooperation for the benefit of our peoples and the entire region," concluded Tumanyan.
To note, according to the RA Statistical Committee, in January-February 2021 Iran took the third position in Armenia's foreign trade turnover - $ 58.4 million, despite the deterioration of the annual dynamics from 42.5% growth to 0.3% decline. In particular, the volume of exports of Armenian goods to Iran amounted to $ 7.2 million, with a deterioration in annual dynamics from an increase of 2.5-fold to a 45.7% decline, and imports of goods from Iran - $ 51.2 million (3rd position) with a slowdown in growth from 26.9% to 13%.
Armenia's foreign trade turnover with the EAEU countries in January-February 2021 amounted to $ 296.6 million, with a deterioration in annual dynamics from 9.7% growth to 12.5% decline, against the backdrop of a reversal of import dynamics from 11.5% growth to 18.8% decline - to $ 194.5 million and a slowdown in export growth from 5.5% to 2.5% - to $ 102.1 million. And Armenia's foreign trade turnover with the EU countries in January-February 2021 lingered in a downward trend with an acceleration of annual rates from 1.9% to 3.2%, amounting to $ 188.9 million, against the background of a decline in both exports by 7.4% to $ 76.2 million and imports by 0.2% to $ 112.6 million, while a year earlier in the same period, export growth by 3.5% was accompanied by a 5.5% decline in imports.
As a result, Armenia's negative foreign trade balance accelerated the annual decline in January-February 2021 to 28.6% from 10.3% a year earlier, amounting to $ 216.7 million. In particular, the negative foreign trade balance of Armenia with the EAEU countries decreased in January-February 2021 by 33.9% per annum - to $ 92.4 million, and with the EU countries, on the contrary, increased by 19.3% - to $ 36.4 million, while in the same period of 2020, the deficit of foreign trade with the EAEU countries increased by 15, 5%, and with the EU countries it was in a decline of 23.4%.
