Largest Iranian Trade Center in the World’ Opens in Armenia
Iranian and Armenian officials attended a ceremony for the opening of what Tehran is hailing as the largest Iranian trade center in world in Yerevan.
Iran’s Trade Minister Seyyed Mohammad Atabak and Armenia’s Economy Minister Gevork Papoyan were on hand for the inauguration ceremony of the center, which is essentially a shopping center located just outside of Yerevan.
The 18,000-square-meter retail and wholesale facility will consist of over 100 sections selling mostly Iranian-made consumer goods, chemicals and other industrial products. It is a joint venture set up by Iran’s ParsHilal Caspian Group and the Multi Group of Gagik Tsarukyan, an Armenian businessman, Azatutyun reported about the center.
The establishment of an Iranian trade center in Armenia will open a new chapter in the relations between the two countries and mark the beginning of further economic cooperation, Atabak, Iran’s trade minister, said during the ceremony.
“The interactions that will take place in this center are highly significant, as they will provide opportunities and create bright prospects for representatives of business circles. One of the priorities of the Iranian government is to develop trade and economic relations with neighboring countries, including Armenia. This important commitment is being consistently implemented by our government. The strong political and economic relations create wonderful opportunities for us, so that Armenia is considered as a gateway to enter the Eurasian economic markets,” he said.
Atabak said that Iran, with its high-tech industry, knowledge-based products, access to transportation, including sea and rail, and its strategic geographical location, could contribute to the development of Armenia’s economy.
”All the activities carried out in recent years, including meetings between high-ranking officials from Iran and Armenia, have created favorable conditions for the development of bilateral relations, which will continue in the future,” the minister said.
“The leaders of our countries have strong political will to further develop and deepen cooperation,” Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani said. “The leaders of our countries have outlined a threshold of trade turnover of three billion dollars, thus we must make all efforts to realize this goal.”
The opening of the trade center coincides with Yerevan hosting a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union, to which Iran has been invited to participate.
At a forum related to the EEU, Papoyan, Armenia’s economy minister said that Armenia is ready to become a key transit link between the EEU and Iran, as well as between the West and the East.
The minister emphasized that the development of economic relations with Iran is an integral part of Armenia’s economic policy, aimed at improving and strengthening Armenia’s international position.
“The deepening of trade and economic ties will contribute to the sustainable development of not only our countries but also the countries of the region. Together, we can build a stronger economic base that will provide our peoples with a better future,” Papoyan said.
Iran’s trade minister Atabak also took part in the forum and announced that expanding trade and economic relations with neighboring countries is one of Iran’s priorities.
The minister emphasized the development of logistics and noted the limitations imposed by financial mechanisms. Atabak stressed the importance of creating a free economic zone, adding that many Iranian entrepreneurs have shown their willingness to join the EEU markets.
The minister said that after the signing of an agreement on the establishment of a free-trade zone, Iran’s trade with Armenia increased two and a half times. According to him, this indicator is good, but far from the goals set by the leaders of the two countries: $3 billion dollars. The current level of trade does not meet the interests of either Iran or Armenia, and it is necessary to ensure that the two countries know each other’s markets better, Atabak said.
The Iranian official also hailed Yerevan’s proposal to connect with Iran’s Chabahar Port, a large operation located in the southeastern Iranian Province of Baluchistan, on the Gulf of Oman, neighboring India and Pakistan.
Officials announced that an Armenian representation office would open at the Chabahar Port.
Atabak said that the Chabahar Port is ready to work with all EEU countries. Also, the minister noted the need to revise the legislation on transit transportation.
