A meeting took place in Tehran between the head of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture (ICCIMA) and the Mexican Ambassador to Tehran. During the negotiations, the parties emphasized the importance of exchanging trade delegations for better acquaintance of economic actors with each other's opportunities. The need to create a joint committee for more effective coordination in developing trade and investment relations was also discussed.
Samad Hassanzadeh, President of ICCIMA, noted that the current level of exchanges and trade between the two countries is insignificant, despite the significant production and investment potential of both nations. He stated that relations must develop upwards through bilateral interaction.
Hassanzadeh mentioned the special circumstances of Iran arising from recent unjust aggressions. He stressed that Iran is a peaceful country and has always sought to develop economic ties with various states in accordance with available possibilities. Therefore, he proposed forming a joint committee with Mexico to strengthen trade relations, noting the Chamber's readiness to implement this idea.
The President of ICCIMA focused on the exchange of economic information by both parties within this committee, adding that through it, benefits could be gained from other countries that have ties with Mexico or Iran.
He spoke about Iran's activities in areas such as new agricultural technologies, industry, artificial intelligence, and others, and reported that the Chamber is ready to host a trade delegation from Mexico in these fields, provided the appropriate conditions are met. Furthermore, he touched upon technical and engineering services, the possibility of implementing large contracting projects, and the significant capabilities of Iranian companies in the field of medical equipment, noting the potential for joint cooperation in these sectors.
Hassanzadeh listed a wide range of goods that Iran can export, including petrochemical products, minerals, mining products, agricultural products, new agrotechnologies, confectionery and chocolate, carpets, chemical fertilizers, industrial equipment, technical and engineering services, as well as tourism and medical tourism. He also noted the availability of opportunities for joint investment, which is welcomed by the Iranian side.
He expressed hope for the early cessation of global conflicts, the advent of peace, security, and tranquility, as well as the resolution of transport and money transfer issues. Only under such stability, in his opinion, can Iran strengthen ties with other countries, including Mexico, as he believes that no country can develop alone.
Furthermore, Guillermo Puente Ordórika, the Mexican Ambassador to Tehran, expressed satisfaction with future cooperation between Iran and Mexico. He stated that both countries possess good potential for strengthening ties and acknowledged that past contacts were limited due to the current situation.
The Ambassador mentioned that he visited Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that sanctions against Iran following this event hindered the development of cooperation. Nevertheless, he positively assessed the proposal to create a joint committee, believing that this approach would positively influence the expansion of relations. He also noted that the new Mexican government has developed an economic program for cooperation with all countries in the world, taking into account all factors for trade development.
Guillermo Puente Ordórika emphasized that the Mexican government's international trade program covers various sectors and includes attracting foreign investment. Therefore, the creation of a joint committee could be the first step towards expanding the partnership.
The Ambassador deemed it necessary to establish a link between ICCIMA and private Mexican companies based on the created structure and supported the idea of exchanging trade delegations. He noted that he is familiar with Iran's potential in the medical tourism sector, which could be a good area for cooperation. In turn, he pointed to Mexico's high potential in the automotive sector, auto parts manufacturing, and heavy industry, where Iran could find points of convergence.
The Ambassador proposed a phased plan: first, create a joint committee, then exchange trade delegations, and only after both sides have studied each other's opportunities and resources can they move on to the next steps.
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