Sweden and Iran take steps toward closer economic ties

In a meeting between the Swedish Commercial Attaché in Tehran and Director General of the European, American and International Affairs Department of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Abolfazl Rahnama, the two sides laid emphasis on expansion of bilateral economic cooperation and resuscitation of mutual trade relations, the public relations office of ICCIMA reported on September 10, 2014.

Abolfazl Rahnama touched on Tehran-Stockholm economic cooperation in the past and said although Iran and Sweden have good political and international ties, recent years have seen a decline in trade relations between the two nations.

The ICCIMA official went on to say that Iran used to be Sweden’s second trade partner in the Middle East, but now it is ninth on the list of Sweden’s regional partners. The bulk of trade exchanges between the two countries mainly relies on commodities exchanges and general trade and does not focus on investment.

Rahnama highlighted Iran’s geographical position, good climate, good share of the regional market and good relations with Central Asian nations – and its capability of forging closer cooperation – and said Iran can have more collaboration with Sweden in exploration and exploitation of mines, information technology, auto-making, car parts, chemical substances, oil, natural gas, petrochemical industry, and tourism.

As for upcoming visits of some European trade delegations to Iran and the joint meeting on September 9 between Iran’s oil minister and Russian minister of energy – in which the two ministers called on businesses in the two countries to increase trade – he said that Iran’s Chamber of Commerce is all set to welcome a senior Swedish trade delegation.

He called on the Iran-Sweden Joint Chamber of Commerce to set the stage for a trade meeting between the two countries at Iran’s Chamber of Commerce.

For his part, the Swedish official said his country attaches significance to closer Tehran-Stockholm economic cooperation and the strong presence of Swedish firms in Iran, adding Swedish companies have always been present in Iran even in difficult situations.