Ukraine’s ambassador estimates potential of agricultural market with Iran at $3 bln

"I think that we should not abandon the dialogue with Iran as well as the dialogue on the Iranian issue with all the parties concerned," Ukrainian Ambassador to Iran Serhiy Burdyliak said in an interview with Ukrinform

Iran has impact on the region with a population of about 130-140 million people, the diplomat noted.

"It’s a huge market! We must not leave it in any case! We need to stay there, because if we, God forbid, leave, it will be very difficult to return," Burdyliak stressed.

In this context, he recalled that Ukraine had high trade turnover with Iran. According to the State Fiscal Service, Ukraine-Iran trade turnover totaled more than $1.2 billion last year. The Iranians call the figures of $1.5 and even $2 billion. The diplomat highlighted that 95 percent of Ukrainian exports to Iran was agricultural products that did not come under U.S. sanctions.

"Moreover, the potential agricultural market with Iran totals $3 billion. Iranians call this figure as they are ready to purchase the agricultural products from Ukraine to the tune of $3 billion. But they want to have a long-term predictable partner, since the importance of food security for them is similar to importance of energy security for us," the ambassador said.

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