TEHRAN: German-Iranian Chamber of Industry and Commerce has estimated that the value of Iran-Germany trade will reach €12 billion over the coming years.
Germany exported goods valued at $3.4 billion to Iran in 2012. The total amount of exports from Germany to Iran reached $1.8 billion in between January and September 2013.
A senior trade official at German embassy in Tehran says his country is keen on expanding trade and customs cooperation with Iran.
“The current level of trade and customs ties between Iran and Germany is not favorable and we hope that positive steps can be taken to promote the bilateral cooperation via negotiations between related authorities,” IRNA reported Olivier Yurtev, head of German Embassy’s economy and commerce division as saying on Monday.
The German official made the comments during a meeting with the Managing Director of Iran Customs International Cooperation Department Mojtaba Shishechiha.
Expansion of customs cooperation between Iran and Germany as well as bilateral trade ties were among the issues discussed between the two sides.
Germany has traditionally been considered as one of Iran’s most important trade partners in the European Union.
Trade relations between the two countries have been downgraded since 2012, when US-led sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program took effect.
However, despite the sweeping sanctions, Germany exported goods valued at $3.4 billion to Iran in 2012. The total amount of exports from Germany to Iran reached $1.8 billion between January and September 2013.
Back in April, Michael Tockuss, the president of German-Iran Chamber of Commerce announced that the value of trade between Tehran and Berlin which currently stands at €2.4 billion a year, could be doubled once the sanctions against Iran are removed.