Focus on Non-Oil Exports; Strategy to Counter Trade Blockade

The Head of the Trade Development Organization announced seven-day programs ahead of National Export Day aimed at supporting non-oil exports, saying: Focusing on non-oil exports is the strategy to counter the trade blockade.

According to reporter Mehr Mohammad Ali Dehghan Dehnavi, the deputy minister of industry, mining and trade and the head of this organization, announced that on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the national export, a seven-day specialized program has been prepared focusing on the growth and development of non-oil exports.

He emphasized that this year, due to the country's special conditions and the challenges caused by the war situation and economic blockades, it is doubly necessary to develop exports and remove the obstacles on the way of exporters.

Referring to the objectives of this event, this senior commercial official stated that the National Export Day is a great opportunity to appreciate the best in this field, create a platform for dialogue between economic activists and senior executives, and present the challenges and demands of exporters. Also, this occasion is considered an excuse for the gathering of government agencies and the private sector in order to synergize in advancing the national mission of developing non-oil exports.

The head of the Iran Trade Development Organization emphasized that the effort of his group is to make this event, while honoring the supporters and activists of exports, become a space to openly express problems and find effective solutions to strengthen exports.

Referring to the new approach of the Trade Development Organization to expand the National Export Day programs, Dehghan Dehnavi said: "Since last year, we have decided to organize the programs of this occasion in the form of a working week; Because the category of export is a multidimensional matter and the quality of the performance of various institutions affects it.

He continued: This year, from today to Tuesday of next week, seven working days are dedicated to the issue of export, and for each day, specialized programs are planned with the synergy of executive institutions and related organizations.

Describing the axes of these programs, Deputy Minister Samet said: The first axis is dedicated to infrastructure and commercial corridors, which has gained special importance considering the current conditions of the country and the restrictions caused by the blockade. During the recent months, several measures have been taken to activate alternative trade routes and remove existing restrictions on some routes.

He added: The meeting related to infrastructure and commercial corridors will be held in cooperation with the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and its subsidiaries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Railway Company. In this meeting, with the presence of the Minister of Roads and Urban Development, a memorandum of understanding will be concluded to facilitate the development of commercial corridors, especially in the rail transport sector.

Referring to other topics of the national export week, Dehghan Dehnavi said: value-creating exports as well as the export of knowledge-based goods and services are among the other topics of this week, which will be followed up with the participation of the scientific vice president.

He added: This year, our effort is to hand over a larger part of the programs to the partner agencies, so that while appreciating their efforts, the role and responsibility of all agencies in the development of non-oil exports will be emphasized more.

The Director General of Iran Trade Development Organization continued: Exporting technical and engineering services is also one of the key topics of these programs. Based on this, the active companies in this area participate in the mentioned programs with the cooperation of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and the Ministry of Energy.

Emphasizing the importance of export management companies, Dehghan Dehnavi said: These companies are important tools for the country's export development, and for this reason, a program has been designed in cooperation with the Tehran Chamber of Commerce to examine their capacities and areas of activity.

He added: Legislation and creating a jump in export is also on the agenda, and in this context, a meeting will be held with the presence of the heads of the commissions of the Islamic Council in order to expand the support platforms for this sector while discussing the needs and legal issues of export.

Deputy Minister Samet said that another focus of the National Export Week is facilitation and honoring exporters who have fulfilled their foreign exchange obligations on time.

In this regard, he said: Export is an important and valuable activity due to its direct impact on the GDP and job creation of the country. When exporters, in addition to doing this activity, fulfill their foreign exchange obligations in full and on time, their work deserves special recognition.

Dehghan Dehnavi added: In the prepared programs, with the presence of regulatory authorities, those exporters who have performed an exemplary and exemplary performance in the field of meeting foreign exchange obligations will be recognized.

Referring to the role of economic organizations in the development of exports, the Director General of Iran Trade Development Organization stated: Programs with the participation of private sector organizations and Iran Export Confederation have been considered for their greater dynamism.

He continued: Events and commercial diplomacy are other topics of this week. In the meeting related to commercial diplomacy, the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be present in order to form more coordination between the responsible institutions and economic activists.

Emphasizing the necessity of all-round cooperation between the executive bodies and the private sector, Dehghan Dehnavi said: In this year's programs, government institutions, public organizations, representatives of the private sector and business activists are present and play a role in organizing the programs.

He added: "The key message of these programs is that in the current situation, all the institutions must be united to support the private sector, remove obstacles and create platforms for the growth of the country's exports so that part of the drop in exports caused by the war and siege conditions can be compensated for in the remaining months of the year."

In the end, the head of the Iran Trade Development Organization stated: The main ceremony of the 30th National Export Day will be held on Wednesday, October 29, and we are trying to hold this ceremony with the presence of the president and as in the past years.