Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says Iran will open a trade office in Qatar in the near future as he underscores Tehran’s neighborly diplomacy aimed at increasing mutual trust with neighbors.
Raeisi made the remarks upon arriving in Tehran after a visit to Doha, where he attended a summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
He said that during his trip, the issue of establishing a trade office in Qatar was raised, which should be done quickly.
Issues related to the removal of customs obstacles and issuance of business licenses were also brought up, he said, adding that Iran’s Industry, Mine and Trade minister and Qatar’s Commerce and Industry minister were tasked with taking immediate steps to remove economic, trade, and investment barriers between the two countries.
“The trip was in line with [Tehran’s] neighborly diplomacy, with the two main goals of increasing mutual trust and cooperation with neighbors and [expanding] Iran’s share in the region’s economy and trade,” Raeisi explained.
Pointing to his meeting with businessmen in Doha, the Iranian president said they were very interested in doing investment as well as economic and commercial activities in Iran.
Raeisi arrived in Doha on Monday on an official two-day visit to participate in the sixth summit of the GECF and hold talks with senior officials attending the event.
During his visit, he highlighted his administration’s neighbors-first policy, which includes boosting ties with neighbors and increasing interactions with Persian Gulf states.
The Iranian chief executive’s Doha visit also led to the inking of 14 major bilateral deals between the two countries, including visa waiver economic cooperation agreements, including a deal on canceling visa requirements for passengers traveling between the two countries.
Speaking at the GECF summit on Tuesday, Raeisi called for further cooperation among the exporting countries to foil US sanctions imposed on some members and fight Washington’s hegemonic plots.