TEHRAN: The so-called “Iran Trade Center” was inaugurated in the southern Russian city of Astrakhan on Wednesday in the presence of Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei. The center aims to boost and facilitate trade between Iran and Russia. Concurrent with the inauguration, 14 provincial chambers of commerce in Iran officially started their trade and commercial activities in Astrakhan, Mehr News Agency reported. The center, launched by Gilan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, was opened 100 years after the shutdown of the previous such establishment in Astrakhan.
The Russian port of Astrakhan is a hub for commercial activities of nearly 200 Iranian firms making the port the largest center of Iranians’ economic activities in Russia. Iran’s export to Russia rose from $168 million in the first half of 2016 to $228 million in the same period of the current year. Iran imported $509 million from Russia in H1 2017. Major exported goods from Iran to Russia include dairy products, poultry, eggs, seafood, shoes and flower.
