YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Republic of Armenia Minister of Economy Karen Chshmaritian paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) from November 8 to 10.

The official visit of the Economy Minister, as well as the Iran-Armenia business forum held on November 9 in Tehran was organized by joint efforts of the Ministry of Economy of RA, Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Development Foundation of Armenia.

As “Armenpress” was informed from the Department of Press, Information and Public Relations of MFA Armenia, the delegation headed by Minister Karen Chshmaritian was comprised of 66 people, 49 out of which were entrepreneurs. First Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia Garegin Melkonyan, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Armenia Aram Arsenyan, Deputy Minister of Diaspora of Armenia Vahagn Melikyan, Executive Director of the Development Foundation of Armenia Arman Khachatryan, representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Development Foundation of Armenia, Small and medium entrepreneurship development national center, Export Insurance Agency of Armenia ICJSC were included in the delegation.

The Minister of Industry, Mines and Commerce of IRI Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, a number of Iranian officials, journalists, representatives of NGOs and Armenian community, as well as around 300 Iranian businessmen attended the forum.

The Minister of Industry, Mines and Commerce of IRI Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Republic of Armenia Minister of Economy Karen Chshmaritian, the First Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia Garegin Melkonyan, President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce Mohsen Jalalpur, Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Iran, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Seyyed Kazem Sajjad delivered opening speeches. 

In his speech Karen Chshmaritian referred to a number of economic factors, such as Armenia’s membership to the EAEU or privileges granted by the EU to Armenia (GSP+).

The Minister of Industry, Mines and Commerce of IRI Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh mentioned in his speech that the level of economic relations between the two countries does not correspond to political level and there is a great potential for expanding trade and economic relations.

The Iranian Ambassador stated the necessity to accelerate the negotiations of creating a preferential trade agreement with the EAEU as the sooner the agreement is brought to life the sooner bilateral trade turnover will grow.

The speakers mentioned in their speeches that the current trade volume is nearly 300 million USD which can be extended to 1 billion USD.  

Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Armenia Aram Arsenyan met with his Iranian counterpart, and the Deputy Minister of Diaspora of Armenia Vahagn Melikyan met with the representatives of Armenian community in Iran within the framework of their visit.