Bushehr and St. Petersburg expand economic and trade cooperation

Pars Today – The governor of Iran’s southern Bushehr Province has stressed the development of economic and trade cooperation with St. Petersburg, Russia, in the areas of port affairs, maritime transportation, energy, tourism, and exports of agricultural and aquatic products.

According to Pars Today, citing IRNA, Arsalan Zare, governor of Bushehr Province in southern Iran, said during a meeting with Alexander Beglov, governor of St. Petersburg, Russia, on Thursday evening that the two regions share significant potential in the maritime economy.

He added that despite their geographical and climatic differences, Bushehr Province and St. Petersburg have deep ties to the sea and play important roles in the maritime economy.

The Bushehr governor said the province, with access to the Persian Gulf, numerous ports, extensive industrial and commercial capacities, and vast energy resources, is considered one of Iran’s important economic regions. St. Petersburg, meanwhile, as one of Russia’s major port, industrial, scientific and cultural centers, holds a special position in the country’s economy and trade.

Zare stressed that, accordingly, there is significant potential for cooperation between the two regions in port affairs and maritime transportation, trade, logistics, maritime industries, energy, tourism, and scientific, technological and academic cooperation, particularly between Persian Gulf University and Bushehr University of Medical Sciences and universities in St. Petersburg.

The Bushehr governor described the development of exports of agricultural and aquatic products, particularly farmed shrimp, as an important area of cooperation with St. Petersburg. He said: “Bushehr Province, with its long coastline along the Persian Gulf, has significant potential in aquaculture and shrimp production, and a major share of the country’s shrimp production takes place in this province. We are interested in working with the Russian side to develop a direct and sustainable export route for Bushehr’s aquatic products, particularly shrimp, to the St. Petersburg market and other parts of Russia.”

Alexander Beglov, governor of St. Petersburg, also stressed the development of bilateral cooperation in trade, maritime transportation, exports of agricultural and aquatic products, particularly shrimp, and investment, referring to the economic and maritime potential of the two regions.

Welcoming the proposals put forward to expand economic relations, he also highlighted the readiness of St. Petersburg’s business community to explore investment opportunities in the Bushehr Free Zone and the province’s special economic zones.