Publish Date: 13 October 2015 - 12:20

TEHRAN, Oct. 13 (MNA) – Iran's minister of industry, mine, and trade has urged Japanese companies to seriously think ahead to investment as Iran only seeks mutual and long term cooperation.

Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh met with Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida and his accompanying delegation in Tehran on Tuesday morning and expressed Iran’s interest in cooperating with Japan in the fields of engineering, technical knowledge and production.

“By providing Japanese companies with access to Iran’s large market, we expect the jointly manufactured products to be released in Japanese markets as well as in other countries,” he added.

Nematzadeh further asserted that, “we need to take into mind the economic scales in all investments and cooperation; therefore, we cannot count on a limited number of assembled vehicles since they do not possess the capability of competing in foreign markets.”

Emphasizing his ministry’s vital role in the country’s gross domestic production, he noted that, “we have identified our priorities in the form of a 10-year strategic plan.”

Industry minister also referred to Iran’s efforts to reach a win-win and fair agreement with the 5+1 and asserted that, “the nuclear talks were a proof that very tough and complex conflicts can be resolved by dialogue and negotiation.”

“The negotiations also showed that we were honest in stating that we would never seek to have nuclear facilities for inhumane purposes and both the West and the UN had to approve this fact,” said Nematzadeh adding that, “we have always proved to be a leading country in peace and security of the region and the world.”

He expressed hope that friend countries will be able to start cooperation with Iran after the full implementation of JCPOA.

Announcing that the talks with former French partners as well as Germany’s Volkswagen and Italy’s Fiat companies have started, the official expressed Iran’s eagerness for the Japanese automaker companies to have an essential cooperation with Iran in the field.

“Japan’s previous approach to merely sell cars or spare parts to Iran is in contradiction with our new policies,” noted Nematzadeh urging Japanese companies to start active and permanent collaboration with at least two Iranian companies.

He further expressed hope that the Japanese side will participate in majority of Iran’s industrial policies without worrying about the sanctions because all sanctions will be removed in near future.

Iranian official further noted Iran’s readiness to collaborate with Japanese companies in the fields of home appliances productions and added that, “we are currently negotiating with Siemens and Philips companies over advanced medical equipment and we would like Japanese companies to attend the talks."

HA/2939350