$170-M Banana Exports to Iran Secure

October 31, 2010, 5:14pm

TEHRAN, Iran – The government of Iran said over the weekend that the Philippines’ $170-million banana export contracts with the Islamic republic is secure and will not be cancelled due to Manila’s alliance with Washington.

Iran’s Minister of Commerce Dr. Mahdi Ghazanfari denied reports appearing in Manila newspapers last month that the Philippines’ banana export contract with Iran may be cancelled.

The Minister of Commerce issued the statement during the 17th Press and News Agencies Festival held here with 247 participants from the academe and media from 48 countries.

Responding to a question related to trade sanctions and exports, Dr. Ghazanfari said that if four waves of “unfair and unjust” sanctions had failed to adversely affect Iran, then there was no reason to cancel any of its existing import or export contracts.

He said that gone are the days of the Cold War when smaller states were dependent on superpowers, adding that in this new era of globalization, buyers need only to find suppliers and arrive at a mutually agreeable price.

“In the year 2009, our exports to your country were worth $250 million; and in the same year, we had imports of $130 million from your country. You can be sure that there is no limitation for expanding our trade,” Ghazanfari said.