Ahmed Alireza Beigi, Governor of the Eastern Azerbaijan Province of Iran, proposed the use of national currencies in trade with Russia, he stated on the second day of the session of the Iranian-Russian working group for cooperation in Tabriz, Iran News reports.
Using rials and rubles would boost trade, the official says. Opening a joint international bank at the Iranian free trade and industry zone of Aras would contribute.
Beigi emphasized that Eastern Azerbaijan wants to cooperate with Russian regions in various areas of the economy, such as industry, mining, education and science, tourism and trade.
The Iranian province has memorandums on cooperation in industry, trade and culture with Tatarstan and four other Russian regions. The Eastern Azerbaijan Province is close to Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia, making it an essential economic and socio-political center in the north-western part of Iran.
Tabriz held the session of the working group on July 16-17.
