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Iranian food supplies to Russia to increase by 10-15% — report

Private companies of both nations were playing key roles in promoting two-way food deals

TEHRAN, January 26. /TASS/. Trade in food and agricultural products between Iran and Russia will grow by 10-15% year-on-year according to forecasts of the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture, the newspaper Iran Daily said on Monday.

Private companies of both nations were playing key roles in promoting two-way food deals, it reported. Efforts were hampered by high customs duties Russia imposed on a number of food products, however, the daily said, adding that customs tariffs also impeded growth of Iranian seafood exports to Russia.

Iranian Fisheries Organization official Issa Golshani was quoted as saying the two nations had signed an $37.5 million deal for supplies to Russia of shrimp and salmon, opening up prospects of potential further growth in a Russian market serviced by 19 Iranian companies.

In comments elsewhere on trade relations, Asadollah Asgaroladi, head of the Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce, said Iranian exports were hit by the declining Russian ruble rate and high customs duties.

Negotiations were continuing with the Russian side concerning favorable tariffs, export guarantees, resolving problems with financial transactions and granting of visas to Iranian executives to stimulate private sector operations, he said, adding that rail traffic growth was also needed to further revitalise economic relations.