TEHRAN Dec 08 (Shana)--An Iranian deputy petroleum minister said Iran is determined to enhance business ties with German companies.Addressing a business meeting with a German delegation comprising industrialists and representatives of major German companies and banks in Tehran, Abbas Sheri-Moqaddam said Sunday that expansion of business ties between Iran and Germany is beneficial to both.
"The two countries are preparing to start joint business activities once the sanctions are eased," said Sheri-Moqaddam, who is also managing-director of National Petrochemical Company (NPC).
He said Iran and Germany used to cooperate in the petrochemical industry under the 7th and 8th administrations in Iran, however, the relations were tarnished afterwards, and the current administration is bent on rebuilding relationships in the sector.
The official pointed to the high quality of German petrochemical equipment and machinery, and said future of cooperation in the gas and petrochemical sectors is promising for both countries.
The NPC chief further underlined privatization of the petrochemical industry of Iran since the beginning year of the 21 century. He said Iran's privatization law forbids NPC to finance developmental petrochemical projects because all of the industry's 60-million ton/year output is handed over to the private sector and the NPC can only act as a monitoring body over the sector.
Iran's rich hydrocarbon reserves provide for easy-to-access and inexpensive petrochemical feedstock making the petrochemical industry very lucrative and attractive to investors.
For his part, head of the German delegation in the meeting expressed hope in reestablishment of business cooperation, and said the visit can be regarded as the startup of a new chapter in Iran-Germany ties provided that the sanctions prohibiting expansion of relations are removed as soon as possible.
Burkhard Dahmen appreciated the Iranian hospitality and holding of business forum and pointed to German delegations activities in various sectors, such as oil and gas, mining, transportation, banking, health care, and nonprofit educational organization.
He said as the owner of the world's biggest oil and gas reserves, Iran is major business target for German firms.
The trade between Iran and Germany has been excellent for decades; but we are facing barriers and restrictions on business opportunities and problems of money transfer in the banking system definitely stymie our potential cooperation, Dahmen Said.
I am very optimistic for our potential cooperation in future in the case that sanctions is lifted, and our governments should find a way to reach a solution, added the German business figure.
By SHANA
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