Iran’s trade with Switzerland had experienced a considerable decline

Sharif Nezam-Mafi, Head of the Iran-Switzerland Joint Chamber of Commerce, said that Iran-Switzerland trade has continued in the past decades despite the unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S. against Iran, adding that in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year Switzerland was the fifth exporting country to Iran by exporting 672,000 tons of goods worth of $539m and it has happened while in recent years Iran’s trade with Switzerland had experienced a considerable decline.

He went on to say that both countries economically complete each other, adding that while Swiss goods and industries provide Iran with its needs, Iranian products are also met the demandsin the progress of industry in Switzerland.

Nezam-Mafi went on to say that some of companies trading with Iran are not Swiss but their trade offices are established in Geneva and they provide Iran with its required goods or they provide their required goods from Iran.

He noted that Iran has good quality products for presenting to Switzerland, reiterating that some Iranian-made medical devices, semi-industrial products and agro items are of the items which are welcomed by the companies in Switzerland.

He added that despite all financial and banking problems, both countries are facing a growth in their trade although the amount and volume of the exchanges is less than the predicted capacity.

Nezam-Mafi also said that Swiss companies did not leave Iran during the sanctions era and the reason behind the decline in the bilateral trade ismostly the hurdles in way of their trade than the lack of interests.

 “The interest of companies based in this country to buy Iranian agricultural and medical products is one of the reasons for the increase in trade between the two countries,” he said.

The head of Iran-Switzerland Joint Chamber of Commerce added: “In the first months of this year, trade exchanges have been expanding, and the main imported goods are related to cereals and medical equipment.”

He reiterated that in case Iran can reach international agreements during the new government, then both countries can expect considerable growth in their trade. He reiterated that interaction with the world should reach a point where exchanges with those countries which are interested to increase.

Nezam-Mafi stated that with the revival of the JCPOA, Iran and Switzerland can boost their 10-billion-dollar trade capacity which will be possible through normalization of banking operation that is possible only through removal of sanctions.

Statistics show that in the first four months of the current year, Switzerland, with 672 thousand tons of goods worth of 539 million dollars, accounts for one fifth of Iran’s imports.

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