Shifting the Focus: Automakers Step Back from Pistachio Exports
According to Citrono, as reported by Ekhtidar Online, recent news about automakers and car importers using revenue from pistachio exports to import vehicles has sparked protests from specialized pistachio exporters. Now, there are indications that this trend is changing. As part of these changes, specialized pistachio exporters will continue exporting this product and will hand over the revenue to automakers.
In this arrangement, the revenue will be sold by the automakers, who will no longer have a role in exporting agricultural products like pistachios.
It is reported that agreements have been made between a major state-owned automaker and the Dried Fruits Exporters Union, as well as between an assembling automaker and the Pistachio and Date Associations. Instead of directly exporting agricultural products, barter agreements will be established, and the revenue will be exchanged based on mutual agreements between the parties involved.
In this regard, Mohammad Ali Rezaei, head of the Agricultural Commission at the Iran Chamber of Commerce, stated in an interview with Ekhtidar Online that these changes signify the end of automakers' involvement in exporting agricultural products. Rezaei explained that the process does not involve a direct barter between automakers and exporters; instead, agreements will be made between agricultural producers and exporters, especially for pistachios, with the automakers. Currently, several agreements are being drafted, whereby exporters will use their cards to export agricultural products and transfer the resulting revenue to the automakers. The responsibility for fulfilling the currency commitment will also lie with the automakers, and the revenue will be sold based on mutual agreements.
He assessed this process positively, noting that it would prevent automakers from directly exporting agricultural products. Rezaei highlighted the issues that arose previously due to automakers entering the pistachio export sector, stating that they exported pistachios out of a need for revenue. However, since this was not their area of expertise, it caused disruptions in the country's export processes.
Currently, agreements are being made to assign this responsibility to specialized exporters and unions, ensuring that automakers will no longer directly engage in agricultural product exports. These agreements are currently underway between the Dried Fruits Exporters Union and automakers, with pistachio exports at the center of this arrangement. There is also a possibility of adding dates to this agreement.
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