21 October 2012
Iran and Egypt have agreed to resume their commercial ties for the first time after the two countries severed their relations over three decades ago.
Last week, an Egyptian business delegation visited Iran and held a meeting with Iranian officials and businessmen at the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Trade, said Reza Nourani, the chairman of Iran's Union of Exporters and Importers of Agricultural Products, in a Saturday interview, Press TV reported.
The two sides discussed various business issues and agreed to start their commercial interactions with the trade of fruits and citrus, he added.
Tehran severed ties with the North African Arab state after Cairo signed the 1978 Camp David Accords with the Israeli regime and offered asylum to Iran's deposed monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
However, the Egyptian revolution in February 2011 which led to the ouster of Egypt's former dictator Hosni Mubarak, thawed the three-decade frosty ties between Tehran and Cairo.
Nourani pointed to Iran's potentials as one of the world's top 20 agricultural hubs and Egypt's capabilities in agricultural industries and described the capacities as a channel for enhancement of bilateral cooperation.
On Wednesday, during the meeting with the Egyptian businessmen and traders, industries, mines and trade minister said there is a significant potential for expansion of commercial and economic relations between Iran and Egypt.
Mehdi Ghazanfari said the private sectors of the two countries play very important role in this regard.
He put the value of Iran's trade with the foreign countries at $200 billion, adding Egypt also has $100 billion of trade transaction with other countries.
Ghazanfari said the value of Iran-Egypt's trade stands at $100 million which is very low.
"Iran is ready to prepare the ground for expansion of bilateral trade ties. Singing a preferential tariff agreement is the first step which should be taken in this respect."
He added that bilateral cooperation can be expanded between the private sectors of the two countries in various fields including industry, oil, gas, petrochemicals, and mining.
The Egyptian businessmen expressed willingness to expand economic and commercial cooperation with Iran.
They called for the Iranian officials to help realize the target.
Iran and Egypt have agreed to resume their commercial ties for the first time after the two countries severed their relations over three decades ago.
Last week, an Egyptian business delegation visited Iran and held a meeting with Iranian officials and businessmen at the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Trade, said Reza Nourani, the chairman of Iran's Union of Exporters and Importers of Agricultural Products, in a Saturday interview, Press TV reported.
The two sides discussed various business issues and agreed to start their commercial interactions with the trade of fruits and citrus, he added.
Tehran severed ties with the North African Arab state after Cairo signed the 1978 Camp David Accords with the Israeli regime and offered asylum to Iran's deposed monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
However, the Egyptian revolution in February 2011 which led to the ouster of Egypt's former dictator Hosni Mubarak, thawed the three-decade frosty ties between Tehran and Cairo.
Nourani pointed to Iran's potentials as one of the world's top 20 agricultural hubs and Egypt's capabilities in agricultural industries and described the capacities as a channel for enhancement of bilateral cooperation.
On Wednesday, during the meeting with the Egyptian businessmen and traders, industries, mines and trade minister said there is a significant potential for expansion of commercial and economic relations between Iran and Egypt.
Mehdi Ghazanfari said the private sectors of the two countries play very important role in this regard.
He put the value of Iran's trade with the foreign countries at $200 billion, adding Egypt also has $100 billion of trade transaction with other countries.
Ghazanfari said the value of Iran-Egypt's trade stands at $100 million which is very low.
"Iran is ready to prepare the ground for expansion of bilateral trade ties. Singing a preferential tariff agreement is the first step which should be taken in this respect."
He added that bilateral cooperation can be expanded between the private sectors of the two countries in various fields including industry, oil, gas, petrochemicals, and mining.
The Egyptian businessmen expressed willingness to expand economic and commercial cooperation with Iran.
They called for the Iranian officials to help realize the target.
© Iran Daily 2012
