TEHRAN: Iran has called for joint efforts with Russia to remove the “customs hurdles” which it says are obstructing the expansion of trade between the two countries.
Iran’s Minister of Communication and Information Technology has been quoted by the Russian media as saying that he plans to raise this issue together with others in his upcoming meetings with the related Russian officials in Moscow and Astrakhan.
“We are interested in developing relations between Iran and Russia. We should pave a way for this, should ease visa regime, get rid of customs hurdles, ease online banking,” Russia’s ITAR-TASS news agency has quoted Vaezi as saying. The Iranian minister was talking to reporters after meeting Astrakhan Region Governor Alexander Zhilkin.
“I will personally try to resolve several issues at talks today and tomorrow in Astrakhan and Moscow. One of these issues is creating ‘green corridors’ for Iranian goods. And I hope we will reach an agreement,” he noted.
Vaezi, who co-chairs Russian-Iranian commission on trade and economic cooperation, is in Astrakhan to take part in the business forum “Russia-Iran: trade and economic and investment cooperation,” ITAR-TASS added.
Russia announced in March that it is taking the required measures to establish “green corridors” on its Caspian coasts to receive agricultural products from Iran.
Russian Deputy Agriculture Minister Sergei Levin was quoted by the media as saying that the ports of Makhachkala and Astrakhan are geared up for the purpose as Russia is pushing through its efforts to find new sources of food supplies amid spat with the West and Turkey.
The green corridors are expected to simplify customs procedures and expedite the formalities for customs clearance and document formalization.
