FNA- Iranian Labor Minister Ali Rabiyee Voiced his country's readiness to expand cooperation with the world countries in a quite a range of industries.

"Iran and Croatia have agreed to develop cooperation in 16 industries," Rabiyee said in a meeting with Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Martina Dali? in Zagreb on Wednesday.

The Iranian labor minister, who is visiting Croatia, made the remarks at a joint meeting with Martina Dali?, Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia and Minister of Economy, Small and Medium Entrepreneurship and Crafts, as well as Minister of Labor and Pension System of the European Eastern European country Marko Pavi?.

Rabiyee pointed to age-old history of relations between the two countries, and said, "Iran has always remained beside Croatia and has fortunately passed difficult years of sanctions era."

The Iranian labor minister said that representatives of over 200 Croatian firms have expressed eagerness to increase presence in Iran through purchase of steel from Iran and exchanging know-how in employment as well as boosting the volume of investment in petrochemical, shipbuilding, electricity and locomotive spheres.

In relevant remarks in late May, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in a meeting in Tehran underlined the necessity for further broadening of bilateral trade and economic relations.

"Iran and Croatia should use all the possibilities provided by the July 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and the world powers to widen the prospect of their economic cooperation," Larijani said.

The Iranian parliament speaker underscored that the time is now ripe for Iran and Croatia to enhance the level of their economic relations.

"The two countries should exploit all potentials to enhance economic and trade ties," Larijani said.

Kitarovic, for her part, expressed the hope that the two countries could establish good ties in economic and cultural spheres, and added, "Croatia has good experience in railroad development, shipbuilding, energy, food industries, transportation and tourism."