Iran’s pavilion at the ninth International Fisheries, Aquaculture and Related Technologies Exhibition in St. Petersburg became a focal point of bilateral trade talks this week, as senior Russian officials visited to discuss expanding aquatic product cooperation. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev and St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov were officially received by Vahid Salehi, Iran’s Deputy Minister and Head of the Veterinary Organization, along with members of the Iranian delegation.
During the visit, Salehi presented Iran’s capabilities in producing, processing, and exporting aquatic products, stressing the country’s potential for specialized and commercial collaboration with Russia. “With diverse capacities in the aquatic sector, production and processing infrastructure, and the active presence of the private sector, Iran is ready to expand its cooperation with Russia in this field,” he said.
Salehi also underscored the importance of health and quality compliance in aquatic trade, particularly with Eurasian Economic and Customs Union member states. He noted that Iran’s exports follow strict veterinary controls, quarantine regulations, and agreed-upon standards with destination countries. “Strict adherence to these requirements plays an important role in maintaining product health, increasing mutual trust, and sustainable trade development,” he added.
The Iranian official further called for facilitating technical interactions, speeding up document exchange, and strengthening communication between specialized bodies of both nations. According to Salehi, developing expert cooperation and creating regular information channels would bolster Iran’s aquatic exports to the Russian market and other Eurasian Economic Union states.
The St. Petersburg exhibition provided a platform for Iran to highlight its aquaculture diversity and private-sector readiness. The visit by high-ranking Russian officials signals growing interest in Iran’s fishery sector as both countries seek to deepen economic ties beyond traditional energy trade. Iran hopes the talks will translate into concrete export agreements, leveraging its production infrastructure and geographic proximity to Russian markets.
