The head of Iran’s customs administration has announced the signing of a trilateral customs cooperation memorandum between Iran, Russia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, adding that the agreement promises a real boost for trade.
Speaking at the ceremony for the signing of the trilateral memorandum of understanding on transit facilitation between the customs administrations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan, Alireza Moghaddesi said the meeting was the fruit of valuable negotiations and sustained follow-up by the three countries towards their shared goals.
These meetings, he added, build friendship and goodwill between neighbouring countries and allow trade facilitation to move ahead faster.
Moghaddesi continued: after extensive follow-up to speed up customs procedures and boost trade with neighbouring countries — Russia above all — this meeting brings us closer to our goals. Azerbaijan is the land border between Iran and Russia, and with consignments moving by truck, goods reach their destination faster.
Stressing that facilitation in transit procedures drives the growth of foreign trade, the head of Iran Customs underlined that with this document agreed and signed, and implemented over the coming month, the goals would be reached.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Vladimir Bulavin, head of the Russian customs service, said the MoU’s main goal is cooperation and expanded trade among the three countries: once the document is signed, the exchange of goods between the three countries, and transit to final destinations, will move faster and without errors or friction in customs procedures.
We have gone over every aspect so that we can take real steps towards resolving problems, he added. One of the key points of this document is digital information exchange: with data sent and received on a regular basis, the transit of goods can be accelerated.
The head of the Russian customs service, noting that the meeting underlines the importance of developing trilateral cooperation, said customs administrations build strong connections that help countries grow their trade — something that will translate into higher trade volumes.
He added: this cooperation and the signing of the trilateral customs MoU open up a real opportunity for our economies. Coordination and dialogue are important and useful, and they can pave the way for rolling out transit on new technologies — building on the experience we have accumulated.
Shahin Baghirov, head of the customs service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, declared his country ready to do whatever it takes to develop and facilitate trade exchanges, saying: by drawing on modern, up-to-date technologies we can raise the speed of customs operations — and this is a valuable opportunity, with the three countries working hand in hand, to bring exchanges to a new level of prosperity.
Stressing that Azerbaijan stands ready to use its full capacity to develop trade, he added: the agreement will speed up processes, and from today all three countries must pull together to put it into practice.
The head of Azerbaijan’s customs service, saying that today’s document maps out a good path for the three countries to move forward with closer cooperation, noted: the groundwork for commercial development is in place, and we will do whatever it takes to deepen cooperation and friendship among the three countries.
Tasnim News Agency
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