Financial, Logistical Hubs Key to Strong Foreign Trade: Iran’s Qalibaf
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf called for the creation of financial and logistical hubs in Iran to facilitate and promote trade ties with foreign countries, especially neighbors.
In a meeting with a group of Iranian business people residing in Turkey, held in Istanbul on Thursday, Qalibaf said overcoming the obstacles to the trade and economic activities requires the creation of a financial and a logistical hub.
“Although the US has imposed sanctions (on Iran), the sanctions are weak in comparison to the existing developments and capacities, and are not effective enough to prevent us from settling our trade problems by creating financial and logistical hubs,” he added.
The Parliament speaker emphasized that creation of the two hubs will help Iran promote trade and economic cooperation with neighboring countries, such as Turkey.
He also noted that formulation of plans for the bilateral trade should not be confined to the short term. “We must have a long-term approach to this issue, for example for 25 years, so that even if the sanctions are lifted, we will continue with efforts to enhance the bilateral trade.”
“This is the same path we are following in relations with China and Russia in order to promote the trade and economic ties,” he added.
In a meeting with the foreign minister of Turkey in November, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called for the expansion of relations with Turkey with the finalization of a roadmap to mutual cooperation, saying the ties between the two neighbors could affect the global equations considering their position.
