The meeting of the Russian-Iranian Business Council, which discussed the development of trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Iran and the promotion of Russian interests in the Iranian market, was held on October 14 in Moscow.

A welcoming speech was made by the Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vladimir Padalko, who elaborated on the current agenda of the business councils' activities in Iran. The Vice-President of the Chamber, in particular, stressed the importance of establishing and developing cooperation with Russian regions through business councils.

Vladimir Obydenov, Chairman of the Russian-Iranian Business Council (RIDS), made a summary report. According to his assessment, Iranian business is currently working in Russia more purposefully and strives for long-term cooperation. However, this is clearly not enough yet. The volume of trade between the two countries is subject to significant fluctuations.

The RIDS Chairman emphasized that there is significant potential for cooperation between our countries in various fields. In the last “covid” year, the trade turnover exceeded the level of 2016 for the first time and thus became the highest in recent years, reaching USD 2.2 billion. In January-August of this year, trade has already exceeded $ 2.4 billion.

In 2019, the Interim Agreement entered into force, leading to the creation of a free trade zone between the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The full report on the work of RIDS is posted on the website of the Business Council https://rus-irn.tpprf.ru/ru/reports/.

The speakers spoke of the need to intensify information exchange and the exchange of delegations, to increase the efficiency of cross-border transportation by opening new transport routes, to seek to improve the quality of customs clearance from the Iranian side.

At the meeting some personnel issues were made:

Vyacheslav Yuvachev, General Director of Sea South Logistics, was appointed Deputy Chairman of RIDS, Timofey Reutov was appointed executive director of the Business Council.

The RIDS work plan for 2022 was approved.

Russian-Iranian Business Council