Any delay may lead to losing Afghanistan market
Head of Iranian Export Confederation believes if Iran hesitates it will lose Afghanistan trade market because other countries are entering it.
Speaking to ILNA news agency, Mohammad Lahooti talked about Iran’s trade with Afghanistan and said that any political change has its own impacts on economy and foreign trade, and recent developments in Afghanistan have affected the trade between Tehran and Kabul and it was natural because for long time the borders were closed and transfer of goods faced problems.
"Of course he does not think this condition lasts too much and probably Iran will restore its position in Afghanistan market."
He noted that Iran and Afghanistan have historic relation, and support of Afghan refugees, the volume of money transfer with Afghan traders and the volume of trade with Afghanistan bespeak the deep rooted and historic ties between the two countries and as soon as the risk of trade is decreased in Afghanistan, Iran’s trade with Afghanistan will increase.
Lahooti went on to say that China is the biggest world economy after the U.S. and Turkey has been moment hunter and these two countries have always been Iran’s rivals. He said if the downward trade with Afghanistan continues, these countries can replace Iran but Iran should do its best not to lose this market.
He said that historic relation is a good opportunity for Iran to protect the current condition and it should not lose opportunities because rivals will take advantage and we should not take for granted that Afghanistan market belongs to Iran and nobody can enter it. He reiterated that on the whole trade is hunting of the moments and any country acts faster, it will be the winner.
On the Ukraine war, he said nobody likes war and bloodshed but Iran can take advantage of this condition by boosting trade with Russia which is under sanctions but all depends on how fast Iran takes action.
On the Vienna talks, he said the direct impact of Vienna talks is apparently seen in the forex rate, reiterating whether we like or not, the fate of Iran’s economy is tied to this issue and expressed hope the talks bear fruit. He emphasized that if the Vienna talks succeed, Iran will have better foreign trade next year.
He also pointed to the importance of approval of the FATF bill in the country, adding that rejecting it will have negative impact on our foreign trade and in case sanctions are lifted, we need the FATF bill to be approved for easing trade.
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