Discussions between Gholamreza Nouri Qezeljeh, Iran’s Minister of Agriculture, and Yuri Gorlov, Belarus’s Minister of Agriculture, recently highlighted the mutual desire to expand agricultural collaborations. Qezeljeh expressed his appreciation for Belarus’s position during the war imposed by the Zionist regime, and emphasized Iran’s eagerness to deepen bilateral bonds in areas such as mechanization, livestock and dairy industry, and joint ventures in the domain of chemical fertilizer production.
Qezeljeh further articulated Iran’s potential for raising the export of key agricultural commodities like fruits, vegetables, and dried fruits to Belarus. On his part, Gorlov, Belarus’ Agricultural Minister, voiced his country’s commitment to stand by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s central tenets and extended his gratitude to the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture for its dynamic participation in the Agricultural Expo held in Minsk earlier this year.
Gorlov further expressed his contentment with the progress made in the agricultural collaborations between the two countries so far. Synchronizing with the impending visit of the Iranian President to Minsk, a mutual decision was reached to sanction three cooperation documents in three key fields – veterinary and livestock quarantine measures, forestry and agricultural researches. The ratification of these said agreements will happen during the sidelines of this visit.
Mid-January saw the initiation of the Iranian Trade Center in Minsk in the presence of Mohammad Atabak, Iran’s minister of industry, mining, and trade. The inaugural function was further graced by the presence of the deputy minister and head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO). An interactive session was also held with Iranian business representatives in Belarus, ensuing a proposal for promoting better trade facilities between the two nations.
On January 22, a meeting was held at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (TCCIMA). The meeting was attended by Mojtaba Najafi Arab, head of the TCCIMA, and the Belarusian Ambassador to Iran. Topics of discussion circled around avenues of growth in trade and economic relations.
The duo underscored the significance of the recent free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). This agreement was recognized as a fresh conduit towards boosting Iran’s trade interactions with the EAEU member nations. Potential collaborations between the commerce chambers of Tehran and Minsk in shaping the future economic relations between Iran and Belarus, a EAEU member, was placed as a point of consideration.
While acknowledging the modest trade exchanges between Iran and Belarus at present, both parties were also cognizant of the vast industrial and economical capabilities possessed by both nations. It was underscored that capitalization of the opportunities that abound is a non-negotiable for fortifying economic ties.
The Commerce Chambers of Tehran and Minsk were identified as pivotal platforms for identifying investment possibilities, enhancing trade cooperation, and introducing trustworthy businesses from both nations. A proposition for the creation of a ‘Tehran-Minsk Economic Cooperation Council’ was tabled to tackle challenges, scout for opportunities, and facilitate the engagement of the private sector in both Iran and Belarus.
Earlier in December 2024, during a meeting between the Head of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA), Samad Hasanzadeh, and the Belarusian ambassador to Iran, Hasanzadeh put forward the necessity of improving bilateral financial transactions via joint mechanisms using local currencies.
He invited investors from Belarus to contemplate joint venture prospects in fields like pharmaceuticals, medical apparatus, livestock, and dairy products. He also highlighted Iran’s secure investment climate. The topic of tourism was given special attention, with suggestions brought forward to streamline the process of obtaining tourist and business visas.
The introduction of direct flight connections between Iran and Belarus to foster people-to-people bonds was also discussed. The Belarusian ambassador mapped out strategies to advance economic collaboration. These included the consideration of establishing a shared trade house in Minsk as a part of the joint economic commission of the two countries.
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