Iran�s Mazandaran province is ready to supply 500,000 tonnes of fruit to the Russian market per year. According to a press report, citrus and kiwifruit will be some of the main products supplied to Russia from Iran, which cultivates up to 3 million tonnes of fruit annually.

The issue of developing relations between the two countries was discussed in Iran in the city of Babolsar by the governor of Astrakhan, Alexander Zhilkin and the governor general of the province of Mazandaran, Rabi Fallah Dzherolad.

A joint project which is set to be implemented in the near future in Astrakhan, involves the creation of packing facilities for Mazandaran companies, which will allow the products to be packed with Russian materials and by Russian technology. A memorandum was signed between Astrakhan and Mazandaran packaging factories. If the Iranian companies pack their produce in Astrakhan they will be able to double the volume of Iranian goods being sent.

"We are talking about 3,000 tonnes being packed a month, which will allow the Iranian side to supply its products to Russia in approved packaging,�� it quoted in the press report from Tass. The lack of Iranian packaging corresponding to Russian standards for imported goods, is said to be one of the factors hindering the development of trade cooperation between the two countries.

According to the governor general Rabi Fallahi Dzherolad, high customs tariffs also inhibit the development of Russian-Iranian relations. Businessmen�s hopes from both countries are hinged on the creation of a so-called "green corridor": the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission is to decide on the range of Iranian goods which will be imported into Russian free of customs duties. Only in this case, Fallahi stressed, "will goods, such as fruits and vegetables from Iran be competitive in the Russian market."

For his part, Zhilkin said at the meeting that these issues will be discussed further at the Iran-Russia Economic Forum, which will be held in Astrakhan. It will be attended by the Iranian ambassador to the Russian Federation, representatives of Russian and Iranian business circles, and representatives of the Russian and Iranian authorities.

By Fresh Plaza