Syria, Iran Sign Cooperation Agreements in the Domains of Energy, Agriculture, Industry and Investment

 DAMASCUS, (ST)- Syria and Iran on Monday signed economic cooperation agreements covering the domains of energy, Industry and agriculture. Both sides also agreed on increasing joint investments and on reactivating the private sector’s role in this respect.

The agreements were signed during a round of talks held by the two sides to discuss issues of common interest particularly the expansion of long-term strategic cooperation in the fields of exploring and drilling oil and gas and establishing and maintaining electric power networks.  

Syria and Iran also talked on cooperation in the health sector through ensuring medicine for chronic diseases and cancer and through activating economic cooperation that facilitates Iranian companies’ investments in Syria.

Following the signing ceremony, Iran’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyeb Nia told reporters that the agreements establish a new era of cooperation between Syria and Iran, particularly because Syria has started to witness recovery and due to abundant cooperation prospects between the two countries.

The round of talks is the second of its kind this year. The previous one, which was held in January, dealt with means of enhancing the Syrian-Iranian economic and trade relations and ways of expanding cooperation in the areas of agriculture, industry oil, electric power, health and medicine.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Local Administration Omar Ghalaweji also held talks with the Iranian Economy Minister Ali Tayyeb Nia on the possibility of expanding trade cooperation through reactivating the agreements signed between the two sides in the past and through signing new agreements.

Ghalawenji called on the Iranian companies to participate in the era of building and reconstruction through implementing and financing new investments in Syria covering all sectors.

On his part, the Iranian minister expressed the willingness of the Iranian government to expand the base of economic and trade cooperation and to encourage the Iranian companies as to take part in Syria’s reconstruction process through carrying out joint services and development projects in Syria.

The talks were attended for the Iranian side by Head of the Iranian-Syrian Relations Development Committee Rustum Qasemi and the Iranian Ambassador in Damascus. The Syrian delegation for the talks comprised the ministers of Electricity, Oil and Mineral Resources, Finance, Economy and Foreign Trade and Health in addition to the Cabinet’s Secretary General, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Head of the Planning Commission and International Cooperation and the Syrian Ambassador to Iran.

Hamda Mustafa