Recently, at the head office of VCCI in Hanoi, VCCI President Vu Tien Loc had a meeting with Iran's Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr Saleh Adibi to discuss preparations for the visit of President Truong Tan Sang to the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as promoting cooperation between the two sides.
According to Dr Vu Tien Loc, there are over 40 enterprises accompanying the Iranian President to visit this time. This really is a good opportunity to improve trade relations for both sides.
Mr Loc also suggested that the Iranian Embassy submit recommendations to the Iranian government on collaboration with VCCI to organise Vietnam-Iran Business Forum and wished to have the policy dialogue between the business communities and the governments of the two countries to directly solve the difficulties and propose suggestions and solutions.
Besides, VCCI President Loc also proposed Iranian Embassy to report to the Iranian government to assign an equivalent organisation to VCCI to cooperate and may enter into a specific action plan to promote trade for both sides. At the same time, VCCI President also recommended the Iranian Embassy prompt review and grant visas to members of business delegation from Vietnam to Iran.
Iranian Ambassador Saleh Adibi was very pleased by the interest of Vietnamese businesses to Iran market. He said the view of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is giving the priority to boosting economic ties with countries. So he looks forward to more cooperation with Vietnam, especially through VCCI.
The ambassador said that the Vietnam and Iran could cooperate in energy, science and high technology, the areas in which Iran has strengths such as the production of petrochemical products, motor fuel, asphalt, etc.
According to Ambassador Saleh Adibi, for over 30 years, bilateral relations have witnessed many positive exchanges, especially through the trade data and high-level visits by leaders of the two countries, especially the forthcoming visit of the President of State Truong Tan Sang. Mr Saleh Adibi believed that with the main purpose of the visit is to promote cooperation in trade and economy; the two sides will certainly take advantage of potential opportunities.
In terms of geography, Iran has a geopolitical strategic position (in the middle and close to many other important countries in West Asia, next to the Persian Gulf and the Capsian Sea and in a position to control the Strait of Hormuz). Iran has a very favourable position, as a springboard for the products to get through Iran to other Middle East countries namely Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Iraq and so on.
Iran is the 2nd largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with a total gross domestic product (GDP) of about VND484 billion (after Saudi Arabia) and a population of 78 million. In particular, the famous Iranian oil industry giant, has reserves of about 155 billion barrels of oil, some 10.9 percent of global oil reserves. Currently, Iran has 62 oil fields on land, 16 offshore oil fields, 20 onshore gas field and two offshore gas fields in operation. Iran is also a leading producer of zinc, lead, cobalt, aluminum, manganese and copper in the world.
Iran is also renowned as a big consumer market with the development of infrastructure in the fields of transport, communications and energy. With its strategic location, surrounded by 15 neighbouring countries by land or sea, Iran can serve as a trade route and transit facilitation in both North - South and the East - West corridors.
According to an IMF report, the rate of export growth of Iran is higher than more than 110 countries, the volume of food and the services of Iran has increased by 5.4 percent compared with 2012. The IMF said the Iranian authorities have made some progress in improving the external environment, and confidence in its prospects.
Quynh Anh
Vietnamese
