Iran's exports to the Netherlands increased eightfold
Board member of the Iran-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce: Fewer assets than Iran are blocked in the European Union, including about $ 1.7 billion in Luxembourg. Due to the closer US diplomacy with the European Union during the Biden period, the same amount can be easily returned to the Iranian economic cycle through active consultation with European countries.
According to the International Iranian Stone Exhibition, Mohammad Hassan Didehour stated about the trade situation with the Netherlands: As of 10 months leading to October 2020, Iran's trade with the European Union has been 3 billion and 600 million euros. Of this volume of trade, only 600 million euros belong to exports and 3 billion euros to imports. The second largest export destination of Iran in the European Union is the Netherlands, during which exports equivalent to 110 million and 300 thousand Euros have been made to this country.
He continued: The Netherlands's share of the total value of exports to the EU is 18.2%. Before Germany, Germany was the first export destination and then (the Netherlands) Italy is in the third place. According to statistics, the Netherlands was the ninth largest Iranian export destination in Europe in the first nine months of 2019, but in the same period of 2020, Iran's exports to this country increased almost 8 times, and as a result, the country moved to the second largest Iranian export destination in the EU. Has found.
Didevar stated: Also, the third source of Iranian imports in the European Union is the Netherlands. Imports from this country in the first 10 months of 2020 were worth 298 million and 500 thousand euros and its share of total imports in the first 10 months of 2020 will reach 9.8%.
A member of the board of directors of the Iran-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce said about the impact of sanctions on trade between the two countries: "Despite all the pressures and sanctions, Iran-Europe trade cooperation still exists due to the roots of previous extensive cooperation." In terms of trade, the Netherlands has been among Iran's top five partners in the European Union for many years. It is true that due to the unfavorable economic situation in Iran, the level of trade between Iran and the Netherlands has decreased in recent years, but this important European country has always proved that it wants a stable and favorable relationship with Iran. This shows that, despite the pressures, there is still a very serious capacity between the two sides.
He continued: "It can be pointed out that the amount of Dutch imports from Iran in 2015 was equal to 31 million euros, which in 2016 amounted to 252 million euros, in 2017 this figure increased to 591 million euros, and in 2018 to 202 million euros." Million euros increased. Unfortunately, after the start of new sanctions in 2019, it has dropped to 14 million euros, and in the 10 months from 2020 to October, this figure is only 37 million euros.
"Also, regarding the Dutch exports to Iran in 2016, the amount of exports of this country to Iran was 706 million Euros, in 2017 it was 1061 million Euros and in 2018 it was 718 million Euros, which in 2019 will be 463 million Euros and in 2020 it will be 463 million Euros," he said. Has been reduced to € 285 million. In other words, in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the effects of lifting sanctions show an increase in trade between the two countries, and in 2019 and 2020, there will be a significant decrease due to re-sanctions.
In response to the question, what are your plans to expand trade with this country? He said: "Over the past two years, due to US sanctions, tensions in the region of the two coronavirus epidemics, the level of trade between the EU and Iran has decreased significantly, and therefore the need for more activation of Instex is emphasized. It can be said that if all the conditions are ready, especially the lifting of the US unilateral sanctions, the Netherlands and its companies are ready to invest in the fields of oil and gas, renewable energy, agriculture and related industries, as well as animal husbandry and related trends.
This member of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce stated: Also, the proposal for the stage after returning to Borjam could be "preparation of a road map" by the Iranian Chamber of Commerce; In this way, for bilateral relations between Iran and all EU countries (including the Netherlands), specific and proposed frameworks for trade should be considered. In this roadmap, identifying potential trade barriers as well as thinking of ways to overcome them can be considered as one of the main pillars.
Regarding Iran's blocked money in European countries, he said: "Due to the sale of the majority of Iranian oil to Asian countries such as Japan, China and South Korea, the largest amount of blocked Iranian money is in these countries." As a result, fewer assets than Iran are blocked in the European Union, including about $ 1.7 billion in Luxembourg. Due to the closer US diplomacy with the European Union during the Biden period, the same amount can be easily returned to the Iranian economic cycle through active consultation with European countries.
Undoubtedly, the arrival of the new US administration is a positive step forward in lifting the unilateral sanctions of the previous administration (Trump) and it is hoped that the new US administration will gradually lift the sanctions and open the way for Iran's trade with the Netherlands. However, it should be noted that with the demands of the Biden government and the conditions set by Iran, a return to the UN Security Council is time consuming and simply will not be possible. Have.
* ILNA
