Iran, Iraq industry ministers meet in Tehran

TEHRAN: Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh received his Iraqi counterpart Mohammad Shiya al-Sudani in Tehran.

At the meeting, Iran's Nematzadeh touched upon withdrawal of ISIL in Iraq saying "we are deeply pleased that Iraq was able to eliminate the terrorist group whose remaining will hopefully disappear or leave the country in the near future."

"As you have witnessed Iran's honesty in bilateral cooperation, you can now count on our trade and economic assistance," highlighted the official.

Iranian industry minister criticized lack of banking relationships between the two countries which has caused various problems for private sectors of both sides.

"Despite the agreement signed between central bank of Iran and Iraq, a year ago, banking relations have not been established yet," he continued.

Nematzadeh went on to note that even for distribution of Iranian gas to Iraqi power plants, a third country had to be involved only due to unresolved banking difficulties.

At the end of his remarks, he urged Iraqi authorities to spare no effort in addressing ongoing problems.

Iraq's industry minister, for his part, while thanking the Iranian government for bilateral cooperation, said "defeat of ISIL anti-Muslim forces was made possible with the help of Almighty God, Iraqi people and Ayatollah Sistani; the victory brings joy to people of Iraq and all Muslims of the world."

He appreciated humanitarian aids of Iran's government and nation adding "state companies of Iraq can launch partnership with Iran's state and private firms as negotiations have already kicked off."

"Every Iraqi city can host an industrial town while, in the first phase, five towns will be constructed in cities neighboring Iran and commitments will be made to provide energy required by Iranian companies in these settlements," he underlined.

He reassured all institutes concerned with implementation of projects in Iraq that no barrier existed to carrying out joint ventures.

Mohammad Shiya al-Sudani confirmed the remarks made by his Iranian counterpart on banking limitations asserting "four Iranian banks have opened branches in Iraqi provinces and one bank in Iraq is also eager to establish a bureau in Iran."

The official said he would discuss issues related to persisting obstacles in the banking sector with governor of Central Bank of Iraq in a bid to resolve all difficulties.

Industry minister of Iraq said his country's government attached great importance to cooperation with Iran in gas and electricity sectors.

Later at the session, Nematzadeh voiced Iran's readiness to share experiences in gas and petrochemical sectors with Iraqi firms underlining that development of Iraq was equal to Iran's prosperity.

"Iran is also capable of producing turbines and electricity generators as indicated by production of four to five thousand megawatts of electricity per year," said the Iranian industry minister stressing that similar measures can be taken in the neighboring country of Iraq.