Mashhad, IRNA – Northeastern Iranian province of Razavi Khorasan is expected to see development in its ultra-regional trade exchange as the province experienced a 17-percent growth in its foreign trade during the past Iranian calendar year (ending on March 20, 2022).
Despite problems caused by the pandemic during the past two years and the developments in Afghanistan – neighbor to Razavi Khorasan – since August 2022, the Iranian province witnessed a growth in its foreign trade.
Razavi Khorasan in northeast Iran has 531.6 kilometers of joint border crossings with Turkmenistan and 302 kilometers with Afghanistan.
The province is on route of trade exchange with many Central Asian countries, but Afghanistan is the first destination for the Razavi Khorasan exports.
In a related development, the chairman of provincial organization for industry, mine, and trade has announced that there has been a 17-percent increase in the volume of foreign trade including export and import in Razavi Khorasan during the past year.
Mohammad-Ali Amir-Fakhrian said Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Iraq, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Russia, Turkey, the Netherlands, India, Oman, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria are the main destinations for the province exports.
He went on to say that the province has also targeted Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) members – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia – as Iran has signed preferential trade agreement with the Union.
The official said that Russia could be a good place for the province fruits and dried fruits because Russia is too cold over half of a year and the situation would be a proper opportunity for exporting agricultural products to the country.
As Amir-Fakhrian noted, 15 neighboring countries of Iran and other spme states like India, China, Syria, Lebanon, Vietnam, and Hong Kong are provincial priorities for exports.
He added that developments in Afghanistan and change of the ruling government in that country have had direct effect on the amount of exports to the neighboring state.
Last Iranian year was the first time after the pandemic that Razavi Khorasan attended foreign exhibitions.
The coronavirus pandemic has killed over 6,240,000 worldwide since its outbreak in December 2019.
Source: Islamic Republic News Agency – IRNA
