FNA - Iranian Ambassador to Damascus Javad Torkabadi underlined the importance of increased cooperation between Iran and Syria to establish a region powerful in economy and trade.

"We can create a powerful economic region through our strong bonds and God willing, we will soon witness a wider presence in each other's capitals," Torkabadi said, addressing a forum to develop trade cooperation between Iran and Syria in Tehran on Saturday.

He stressed vast grounds for economic activities in Syria, and said, "These grounds would provide high opportunities for the Iranian sides and reconstruction of Syria."

Torkabadi described the two countries' economies as complementary to each other.

The Iranian envoy had also earlier this month said that Tehran and Damascus had the capacities needed to broaden mutual economic and trade cooperation

"Iranian and Syrian businessmen need to get more acquainted with the economic opportunities of the two countries to help develop bilateral relations," Torkabadi said in a meeting with Syrian merchants and businessmen in Damascus.

The Iranian ambassador reiterated that the Iranian and Syrian private sectors and investors had established sound relations in the recent international exhibition held in Damascus.

"Iranian and Syrian business operators are attempting to pave the way for developing economic exchanges," Torkabadi added.

He expressed the hope that the private sectors of the two countries would help strengthen bilateral economic relations.