Although there is very old relationship between Iran and Britain, but the Iran Foreign Trade Balance in regard with the UK is still negative.
In recent years the ratio of the export to the UK on direct import from that country has been around 20 percent. If we take into account the indirect export of Britain to Iran which is done through U.A.E, we will consider that the amount of export to Britain has never reached to 5 percent of the import value from that country.
Some of British and Iranian Businessmen who are not aware of existing different facilities and potentialities for improving the Balance of Trade of the two countries, bring up this questions:
What kind of goods and services Iran is equipped with, in order to export to the challenging industrial world market, except traditional goods, such as hand woven carpet, dried fruits and mineral raw material.
Without referring to the actual and potential facilities which may form the counter trade relationship, it is suffice only, in respond to the above question, to mention the need of Britain for the agricultural products and even agricultural industries which Iran has the proper abilities to provide them, regarding the fact that the horticultural products in Iran have exceeded 60 million tons in last year and it is excepted to grow up in the near future.
Therefore two countries may move towards making adjustment on the balance of trade and join to the market and provide new jobs, which are strongly needed in Iran’s economy, in order to establish a very strong base of economic relationship between the two countries which will be followed up by friendship, peace and security in the region.
Bring this into reality, requires inducing investors, management and marketing of the trade and investment authorities of the UK, to corporate and improve the development pattern.

Dr. Amir Houshang Amini