Expert: gathered experience in re-export with Russia may be beneficial for Armenia in developing relations with Iran

ArmInfo. The experience  gathered by Armenia over the past 2 years in the field of re-export  with Russia may be beneficial for Armenia in the context of  developing relations with Iran. Aram Safaryan, director of the Center  for Russian Studies at Yerevan State University  and coordinator of  the Eurasian Expert Club, said this at a press conference Tuesday.

Noting the high interest of the Iranian side in the Armenian market,  he noted that our country could supply high-tech products to Iran.

At the same time, Safaryan noted that the previously existing  temporary agreement between Iran and the EAEU on free trade was not  fully used. Experts expected that with the agreement, problems with  the North- South transport corridor would be resolved very quickly,  which would allow Armenia to increase trade turnover with Iran and  receive serious dividends. According to economists, this opportunity  has not yet been lost.

"I am convinced that in the coming years, when Iran becomes a stable,  promising partner for the EAEU, we, as the only land neighbor, will  receive tangible dividends with the launch of the North-South  transport corridor. And this will become a new incentive for economic  development," Safaryan said.

In turn, Tatul Manaseryan, Director of the Alternative Research  Center, Doctor of Economic Sciences, expresses dissatisfaction that  in recent years initiatives within the framework of bilateral  relations have come exclusively from the Iranian side, as well as  pointed the lack of necessary infrastructure for export and import  activities and ideas about the Iranian economy. "We must conduct  serious research into the Iranian market and economy, so that this is  not a one-way road, but a two-way and mutually beneficial one,"  Manaseryan said.  He also pointed out the need for Armenian business  to be more proactive.  According to the economist, there are great  prospects in the context of creating joint ventures and exporting  manufactured products to the Eurasian market.

Drawing a parallel with Georgia, which is in an advantageous position  with its transit potential, Manaseryan noted that Armenia should not  be passive in the context of Iran.

According to the RA Statistics Committee, foreign trade turnover  between Armenia and Iran for the 10 months of 2023 increased by 0.2%,  amounting to $566.6 million. Exports decreased by 13.7% to $79.2  million, with imports growing by 2.9 % up to $487.4 million.