Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammadreza Nematzadeh made the remarks at a join meeting on Sunday with the visiting New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd McClay.
“Relations between Tehran and Wellington have always been appropriate and developing though plans are needed to elevate trade turnover and bolster cooperation between the two sides,” he continued.
The official, while pointing to Iran’s willingness to make joint investment for implementation of projects and technology transfer, said “proper venues exist for joint venture in dairy, agricultural, livestock, chemical and petrochemical industries.”
He further referred to Iran’s capabilities in oil and petrochemical equipment, agriculture and dairy products, communications, plastic, machinery sectors; “the country’s strategic position inside the region provides access to a 400-million-strong market including neighboring countries.”
Nematzadeh emphasized the need to strengthen banking ties between the two parties noting “meetings and negotiations between Iranian and New Zealander banks remains as the best approach towards removing banking obstacles.”
New Zealand’s Minister of Trade Todd McClay, for his part, voiced his country’s readiness to reinvigorate ties with Iran saying “excellent capacities exist in various sectors of New Zealand including commodities, services, refinery and dairy industries.”
He called for expansion of mutual collaboration in research, development and innovation areas recommending that a joint trade committee be formed between the two countries in order to deepen trade and industrial ties.
He emphasized the need to prepare a roadmap to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Iran and New Zealand concluding “representatives of New Zealand’s banks and insurance companies have travelled to Tehran to alleviate existing barriers.”
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