[{"bbox": [71, 105, 1158, 186], "category": "Text", "text": "framework document for EU-Iran cooperation; (iii) the European Consensus on Development; (iv) the Commission Communication on 'Achieving Prosperity through Trade and Investment' (v) European Green Deal policy (e.g. Circular Economy Action Plan, Farm to Fork Strategy); and (vi) Gender Action Plan III 2021-2025."}, {"bbox": [87, 204, 326, 235], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2. Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [71, 248, 1136, 329], "category": "Text", "text": "**Component I:** In 2020, the European Commission (DG SANTE, DG TRADE and DG AGRI) identified some opportunities for enhancing trade relations in aquaculture products, a sector in which Iran has competitive advantages globally in terms of supply capacity and quality."}, {"bbox": [71, 339, 1136, 500], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU is the world's biggest importer of fish, seafood and aquaculture products. Whereas EU/EEA markets are open to these products, the inability of Iranian exporters to meet, and demonstrate compliance with European certification requirements limits their market access. Reliable laboratory test results carried out in EU-accredited facilities, in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025¹⁵ formal EU recognition of the competent authority, as well as regularly submitted and compliant residue monitoring plans, are a pre-requisite for eligibility and authorization to export to these products to the EU."}, {"bbox": [71, 511, 1136, 698], "category": "Text", "text": "The Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) is Iran's national competent authority for residue monitoring in animal and animal products. Since CVL is not an EU accredited body, Iran's Veterinary Organisation (IVO; an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad) has been outsourcing product testing to an EU-accredited reference laboratory in France with specific competencies for aquaculture products for exports to the EU. In 2021, Iranian shrimp, caviar, and trout received import authorization from the European Commission through DG INTPA's 'EU-Iran Trade Development' project (MIDEAST/2018/403-302), which supported sample testing at an EU reference lab, as well as preparation and submission of related annual Residue Monitoring Plan (RMP) to DG SANTE."}, {"bbox": [71, 709, 1136, 870], "category": "Text", "text": "However, this type of *ad hoc* support is not cost-efficient and sustainable. Further, the fishery sector is crucial for the livelihood and job creation in northern and southern provinces. Iran has a large untapped export potential. Considering only the example of caviar and shrimps, even in the sanctions intensive 2020, about 1.3 tons of caviar and 133 tons of shrimps were exported to EU member states. This represents about 780,000 and 680,000 euros in revenues, respectively. Given Iranian production levels, IVO estimates that revenues in caviar could easily reach EUR 3.5 million and EUR 75 million for shrimps."}, {"bbox": [71, 881, 1136, 1038], "category": "Text", "text": "**Component II:** The Export Potential Assessment carried out by the 'EU-Trade Development' project in 2019 shed light on the significant and untapped trade potential between Iran and the EU. Namely, it identified high potential sectors under two scenarios (i.e. with and without US imposed sanctions). The assessment paved the way for the development of Iran's National Export Strategy (NES) 2021 – 2025, which focuses on six sectors: fruits and vegetables; medicinal herbs; automotive parts; petrochemicals; information and communications technology; and tourism."}, {"bbox": [71, 1052, 1136, 1213], "category": "Text", "text": "Complementary to this work, the 'EU-Iran Trade Development' project delivered the Europe-Iran Business Forum (EIBF) in March 2021, a virtual event that served as a digital platform for European and Iranian SMEs and enterprises to seek business opportunities and build relations. EIBF consisted of a three-day conference, a series of capacity-building courses for Iranian SMEs and enterprises, and business networking activities. EIBF witnessed participation of more than 2000 SMEs and enterprises, delivered 32 capacity-building courses and included 159 B2B meetings¹⁶."}, {"bbox": [71, 1224, 1136, 1358], "category": "Text", "text": "Despite the US-imposed sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, EIBF was a successful proof of concept that validates the EU-Iran trade and investment potential. Considering Iran is to a large degree a closed economy and its SMEs and enterprises lack opportunities to establish business relations with European counterparts all relevant stakeholders consider that a digital platform similar to the EIBF model should be set up to serve Iranian and European SMEs and enterprises on a continuous basis and in a sustainable manner."}, {"bbox": [71, 1369, 1136, 1530], "category": "Text", "text": "**Component III:** Trade-support institutions play a pivotal role in enabling export/import success. Institutional support features prominently in the in the 'EU-Iran Trade Development' project. It mostly targets the Iran Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO; an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade (MIMT)) and includes performance improvement at the structural, organisational and operational levels, service portfolio development, and staff training. It also includes training of public administration staff on EU mandatory requirements concerning agri-food products, and the mainstreaming of climate change for relevant trade promotion organisations."}, {"bbox": [71, 1541, 1136, 1569], "category": "Text", "text": "The successful establishment of the 'EU-Iran Trade Development' project in Iran led to engagement with two other"}, {"bbox": [71, 1614, 959, 1641], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁵ ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories."}, {"bbox": [71, 1639, 278, 1661], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁶ Business-To-Business"}, {"bbox": [1051, 1663, 1158, 1687], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 20"}]