Trade development requires effective presence in global decision-making

Mansour Motamedi told IRNA that coordination with the world trade is such that if production, distribution and banking processes are not in line with trade policies they will practically slow down.

He pointed to changes in the world markets as the origin of many economic and commercial threats and opportunities and added that in order to increase the country’s presence in these markets, it is essential to know where we are standing for fighting with the threats and taking advantage of opportunities.

Motamedi also referred to imposition of three decades of heavy US, EU and UN sanctions on Iran and said what has motivated investors to get involved in Iran’s trade is the diplomatic achievements which can prepare the grounds for the lifting of all the sanctions.

He further remarked that the government of 'prudence and hope' has focused its attention on export of non-oil products, adding that the general target of the government in adopting such a policy is maintaining the required hard currency for the realization of its economic development.

Stressing that Iran’s economy by diversifying and increasing non-oil exports has become more resistant, the economist said the government should make a revision in export policies.

However, he added, it should be seen how broad are the resources allocated to the exports and this imagination that imports should be brought down to zero is not practical rather the important point is the strategy of imports.

According to the customs statistics in the first quarter of the current calendar year 33.761 million tons of goods valued $16.097 billion were exported, showing an increase of 13.24% in terms of weight and 21.14% in terms of value in comparison with the same period last year.

Source: IRNA