A Russian delegation, led by Head of Altai CCI Boris Chesnokov, met and talked with Head of Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce Asadollah Asgaroladi and inked a cooperation document.

Based on the newly-sealed MoU, the two parties pledged to pave the path for strengthening business, research and technology ties between private sector actors and companies and organizations.

Also, the two bodies, with the aim of bolstering trade relations, will provide each other with information about economy and foreign trade regulations.

Speaking at the MoU-signing ceremony, Iran’s Asgaroladi enumerated obstacles to bilateral cooperation between Tehran and Russia including banking restrictions which prevent monetary transactions, financial issues which require signing of a financial-monetary agreement between central banks of the two countries as well as transportation and visa systems which is the most important concern for Iranian businessmen.

He called for issuance of one-year visas for Iranian entrepreneurs and businessmen though Russians have taken no step in this regard so far.

The official went on to add that many Russian customs still refuse to trust Iranian businessmen and they consider the highest rate for Iranian goods while valuing products.

He highlighted main challenges of Russian customs policy including high value of Iranian goods in the Russian customs, weakness in marketing and identification of Russian market capacities, lack of common health standards, visa-related problems, and high demand of Russian consumers for European commodities as well as doubtful distrust.

Head of Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce underlined that Iranians had difficulty traveling to Russia in all four types of transportation systems: air, sea, rail and air.

Asadollah Asgaroladi stated that Iran’s railways are not at service of business and the aviations sector also suffers from certain limitations; “Iran performs no cargo flights to Russia and passenger planes only fly to Moscow while trade with the Eurasian country cannot be limited to the capital. Direct flights need to be performed also to Astrakhan and southern Russia.”

Altai is a Russian republic in southern Siberia whose terrain encompasses the Altai Mountains and surrounding tundra, alpine meadows and thousands of lakes.

The area of the republic is 92,600 square kilometers and its population is 206,168. Various bodies of water are among the most important natural resources of the Republic. Mineral and hot springs are popular destinations for tourists and locals, sought for their therapeutic effects.

Twenty-five representatives from five international Russian companies were present at the high-ranking Altai delegation to Tehran.