HM’s visit to Iran will enhance trade, investment opportunities

Oman Saturday 27/May/2023 20:54 PM
By: Times News Service
HM’s visit to Iran will enhance trade, investment opportunities

TEHRAN: Bilateral trade relations and investments will be the key areas that will be in focus during the visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the Islamic Republic of Iran, which begins on Sunday.

Businessmen and entrepreneurs of both the countries have welcomed the visit of HM the Sultan and are hopeful that the bilateral trade and investments at the government and private sectors will get a huge boost.

Leading business leaders said that the visit would contribute to enhancement of trade and investment movement and the increase of exchange of trade between the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) said: “The private sector sees the visit of His Majesty the Sultan to the Islamic Republic of Iran with great interest and attention, expecting priority to be given for the economic side in the negotiations between the two sides. The Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran share historic and deep-rooted relations and the visit would facilitate signing of new economic agreements between the two countries.”

Al Rawas added: “OCCI in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) have offered several facilities to foreign investors, mainly investors from the Islamic Republic of Iran, to boost maritime trade. He said that the trade exchange between the Sultanate of Oman and Iran increased by approximately $2 billion in 2021 and the number of Omani companies in which Iranian investors contribute, amounted to 1,800 companies.”

Al Rawas said: “I expect opening of economic dossiers during the visit and new agreements, which would contribute to the increase of trade between the two countries. The trade volume has doubled almost three times in the last two years.”

The OCCI chief said: “Visa free entry for citizens of both the countries would contribute to enhancement of tourism for both sides.”

Jamal Razaghi, Chairman of the Iranian side in the Omani-Iran Joint Business Council hoped that the visit of His Majesty the Sultan to the Islamic Republic of Iran and his meetings with the Iranian leadership would achieve the goals of the people of the two countries.

“I hope the meetings between the two leaders would open more opportunities in the fields of trade, scientific and medical cooperation between the two countries,” said Razaghi.

He said: “Islamic Republic of Iran aspires for increasing the size of exchange of trade with the Sultanate of Oman to $5 billion. This is possible as there are great opportunities for trade between the two countries. Iran does not view the Sultanate of Oman as an economic market but as a vital strategic partner.”

Razaghi said: “Boosting joint investments and setting well-established mechanisms for accelerating the executive procedures for investment would achieve sustainability of the trade relations. The joint investments and cooperation, currently witnessed by businessmen, is the result of the strong relationship set by the governments of both the countries during the past years.” 

He also stressed the significance of the role of the private sector in both the countries and the necessity for continuation of communication and coordination between Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) for the increase of trade exchange and investments between the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Ra’eid bin Mohammed Al Shahi, Chairman of Musandam branch of OCCI said: “The visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the Islamic Republic of Iran reflects the historic relations between the two countries and will boost joint cooperation and exchange of trade and investments between the two countries.”

Mohsen Darabi, former president of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) said that the “economic cooperation is one of the results of the strong relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“We hold great aspirations, mainly with the presence of economic agreements and vital border posts between the two countries. The Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture supports the Iranian and Omani companies in both countries and works to facilitate investments,” said Darabi.

-With ONA inputs