African harvester ants are being smuggled from Kenya to Europe for pet keeping

The Director General of the Readiness and Support Department for Trade Promotion of the Iranian organization emphasized that the continuity and resilience of goods transit routes are one of the key requirements of international trade in light of geopolitical changes and global crises.

According to the Public Relations Department of the Iranian organization's Trade Promotion, Seyed Ali Emami noted that countries' focus in the past was on increasing competitiveness and improving access of goods to international markets. However, events such as the coronavirus pandemic and international wars have changed the priorities and approaches of world trade.

This official representative of the Iranian organization's Trade Promotion specified that simply having a competitive product in the target market is not enough. The priority has now become ensuring the movement of cargo and goods under any circumstances, i.e., sustainable delivery to the destination market. In this regard, the world economy is moving towards creating and strengthening alternative routes, corridors, and diverse transport networks.

According to Emami, in case of a failure on one of the transport routes, especially maritime ones, there must be the possibility of using alternative land and road routes so that the flow of goods does not stop and products reach the target markets in a timely manner.

The Director General of the Readiness and Support Department for Trade Promotion of the Iranian organization, referring to the significant share of maritime transport in global trade, stated that although most freight is transported by sea, land and road routes account for a smaller share. Nevertheless, recent events have shown that developing alternative routes and strengthening transport corridors can significantly increase supply chain resilience and trade stability.

He stressed the need to reduce costs for road transport and create appropriate incentives to increase the use of these routes. It was noted that tests and analysis of various routes are currently underway, and efforts are being made to create conditions for alternative routes to become a more active path through the implementation of necessary measures and infrastructure objects.

Emami also touched upon the country's export figures, reporting a significant growth in exports in this sector despite a decrease in transit volumes and goods outflow, which requires study and the adoption of appropriate decisions to eliminate obstacles and strengthen this sector.

In conclusion, the Director General of the Readiness and Support Department for Trade Promotion of the Iranian organization considered the development of transport infrastructure, diversification of goods movement routes, and strengthening of alternative corridors to be fundamental requirements for ensuring the continuity of foreign trade and increasing the resilience of the country's supply chains in changing global economic conditions.

A meeting was held in Tehran where Samad Hassanzadeh, head of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, discussed with the Uzbek ambassador the importance of accelerating and facilitating the transit of Iranian goods through Uzbekistan. He noted that one of the serious requests from Uzbekistan is the abolition of the visa regime and the simplification of movement between the two states, especially for Iranian traders.

The Uzbek ambassador in Tehran visited the Chamber to plan an Iranian-Uzbek business conference and explore ways to expand bilateral relations to the level of two billion dollars. He met with the head and deputy head of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At the beginning of the meeting, Samad Hassanzadeh expressed gratitude to Uzbekistan for its support and for sending medical and pharmaceutical supplies to Iran during the Ramadan War period. He emphasized that the people and government of Iran will not forget this act.

Hassanzadeh continued, stating that the current volume of relations between Iran and Uzbekistan is insufficient, and it is necessary to work together to increase exchanges between the two countries.

The Chamber's head referred to the memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening comprehensive cooperation between Iran and Uzbekistan until 2027 and increasing trade volume to two billion dollars. He added that difficulties arose due to the 12-day and 40-day wars, as well as the maritime blockade of Iran. In this regard, he asked Uzbekistan to take measures to facilitate road transport and speed up the transit route for Iranian goods through Uzbekistan.

The Chamber's head specifically highlighted that the 17th Joint Iranian-Uzbek Commission and Business Conference focused on simplifying visa issuance for Iranian economic figures. It was noted that Iran unilaterally abolished the issuance of visas for residents of Uzbekistan, and the hope is that the government of Uzbekistan will make a similar decision so that Iranian economic figures can travel to Uzbekistan more easily.

He pointed to Iran's potential in technical and engineering services and reported that both sides had previously agreed to establish a joint investment fund. Furthermore, economic figures from the two countries are currently negotiating 29 joint projects in the fields of technical and engineering services, water supply, and sewerage. Given Iran's capabilities in these areas, he requested the necessary support for establishing this fund, stating Iran's full readiness.

Hassanzadeh stressed readiness for closer cooperation in mining, technical and engineering services, agricultural machinery, construction materials, and other fields. He also noted that Iran has good opportunities in the field of power plant equipment, renewable energy infrastructure supply, petrochemical products, and so on, which only requires management and planning.

The Chamber's head also proposed joint investments with the Uzbek side in the construction of textile factories, steel mills, and greenhouses.

Subsequently, Hossein Pirmoazzen, deputy head of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, addressed the topic of potential joint cooperation in the agricultural sector between Iran and Uzbekistan. Discussing greenhouse construction and aquafarming, as well as reached agreements, he stated that both countries have made progress in seed production and hydroponic greenhouse equipment, and specific seeds are produced in both countries. In line with this production, cooperation is possible in the exchange of seeds, fertilizers, and necessary equipment.

Afterward, Fariddin Nasриев, the Uzbek ambassador in Tehran, spoke about the importance of resolving disputes based on international principles while preserving the interests of the states. He then discussed the economic situation of Uzbekistan and strengthening trade ties with target countries.

According to him, the two-billion-dollar trade goal is set between Iran and Uzbekistan, and it is necessary to plan its achievement. In this context, holding a business conference in Iran is one of the effective ways for the economic figures of the two countries to get acquainted.

Nasриев emphasized the significance of personal meetings between the economic figures of the two countries and added that issues of cooperation and transport infrastructure between the parties were discussed. He expressed interest in having facilities in Bandar Abbas. He acknowledged existing misunderstandings in this area that need to be resolved. Last year, the number of Uzbek transit trucks passing through Iran was less than the number of Iranian trucks passing through Uzbekistan due to high Iranian tariffs. Therefore, he asked for these tariffs to be lowered.

The Uzbek ambassador in Tehran stated his readiness to purchase oil and its derivatives from Iran. He also talked about agricultural issues and the possibility of exporting fiber, cotton yarn, and fabric to Iran.

Speaking about the export of textile products from Uzbekistan to other countries, he noted that many world-renowned brands in the textile industry have opened factories in Uzbekistan and conduct extensive activities.

Regarding the production of agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, and fresh produce, Nasриев stated that, given the harvest season, Iran and Uzbekistan are not competitors but rather complement each other.

The Uzbek ambassador in Tehran informed that the government of Uzbekistan is ready to provide land in free trade zones to Iranian economic figures.

A new roadmap for developing logistical interaction between Iran and Pakistan was developed during the visit of an Iranian economic delegation to Pakistan, with the expansion of trade and transit being a central focus.

Masoud Polmeh, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Transport, Transit, and Logistics of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, reported that during the three-day meetings, the delegation held numerous negotiations with the ministers of transport and railways of Pakistan. One of the key achievements of the trip was the creation of a logistics sector agreement that addressed the issue of containers stuck in the port of Karachi.

According to the Pakistani side, the number of such containers exceeds 12,000 units. Based on the agreements reached, it was decided that with minimal necessary positive documentation in maritime transport for amendments, the necessary conditions would be provided for the transit or transshipment of containers. Furthermore, the issue of auctioning or declaring these containers abandoned was completely eliminated.

The Secretary of the Shipping and Ancillary Services Association of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce specified that the Pakistani side agreed to maximally reduce warehousing costs for the stranded containers in the port of Karachi. It was also decided to adjust some demurrage costs related to Pakistani shipping companies, and the government of Pakistan will provide the necessary support in this regard.

Polmeh noted that the agreements reached create favorable prerequisites for faster delivery of detained goods into the country and may help solve some problems faced by economic actors.

As part of this trip, members of the Iranian delegation held separate meetings with six Pakistani ministers responsible for various economic sectors. Meetings were also held with the Chambers of Commerce and economic federations of Pakistan to study cooperation issues between the two countries.

One of the important issues raised was the optimization of movement and transportation between the countries. In this regard, it was agreed that Pakistan's active borders would operate around the clock, which could significantly affect the exchange of customs and transport services.

The Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Transport, Transit, and Logistics of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce added that the negotiations also discussed reducing documentation and formalities required for trucks to cross the borders of the two countries, as well as financial mechanisms for developing trade and transport partnership; details on this will be announced by the relevant authorities.

In addition, other sectors of the economy were addressed. For example, areas for joint exploration and exploitation were considered in the mining industry. Negotiations were also conducted regarding the supply of energy, crude oil, and gas.

Polmeh mentioned that directions for developing bilateral cooperation were also studied in the agricultural sector, including issues of supplying and importing products necessary for Iran, including Pakistani rice.