The EAEU is an economic bloc of countries located in Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and Central Asia. The Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union was inked on May 29, 2014, by high-ranking officials from Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, and came into force on January 1, 2015.
The union and Iran signed a three-year agreement in October 2019 in a bid to strengthen regional convergence and facilitate trade between the two sides.
The member states (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia) comprise of 190 million people with a GDP of 2.7 trillion dollars. Their trade with other countries stands at about 900 billion dollars.
According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), the trade volume between the EAEU member states and Iran stood at 3.4 billion dollars in the last Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2021).
Gilan province in northern Iran has played a historical role in trading with the Central Asian countries and is considered as one of the most important connecting routes with the markets of those states.
Following the completion of the remaining parts of the Rasht-Caspian railroad, Gilan province can turn into the gateway to the eastern European markets.
***The need for reforming tariffs and export commodities
Supervisor of Gilan Customs Administration Abolghasem Yousefinejad told IRNA that the cooperation between the EAEU and Iran is one of the important opportunities to expand regional collaborations.
Iran's export commodities do not have many goods, he complained, noting that the shipments consist of raw materials as well as industrial and agricultural products, which are not of high value-added export.
He also called for attaching importance to resolving problems that merchants are facing, when it comes to trade with the EAEU member states.
The reform of tariffs and the value of export commodities are among the significant issues, which need particular attention, the official added.
Yousefinejad went on to say that Iran should reconsider its customs duty exemptions because the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union are deprived of enjoying such exemptions.
The Islamic Republic should utilize a combined transport system by using shipping lines, railroads and other routes in order to reduce the costs of export and import, he mentioned.
***A special opportunity for Iran
Chairman of Gilan Chamber of Commerce Hadi Tizhoosh Taban said that the official figures show that the good opportunity for trade with the EAEU has not been properly utilized so far.
Tizhoosh Taban noted that part of the problem comes from lack of appropriate infrastructure especially in transport system as well as issues related to tariffs.
Iran's free trade zones have inappropriate connections, and the issue affects the capability of the country at the national and international level, he said, adding that the free trade zones are expected to upgrade export and import capacities.
1424
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