Syrian-Iranian talks discuss broadening trade cooperation basis

Damascus – Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi discussed on Wednesday with the Iranian Assistant Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Farhad Zargar the mechanisms needed to activate agreements signed between the two countries.

The prospects of signing new agreements to further broaden the basis of trade cooperation and exchanged investments, especially in the fields of agriculture, communications, transportation and oil, were also discussed, SANA reported.

Al-Halaqi clarified that the growing economic, trade and development relations between Syria and Iran have contributed to reducing the bad effects of the economic blockade imposed on the Syrian people and the global terrorism war waged against them since 2011.

The Premier said the Iranian economic and trade delegation’s visit to Syria is important to the effect of discussing new chances and prospects to enhance cooperation.

For his part, Zargar expressed his country’s keenness to continue providing support to meet the needs of the Syrian people to help them more firmly stand their ground.

He referred to the possibility of reaching a technical and practical framework to develop the standing agreements and sign new ones.

Syria and Iran signed in May 2015 a number of agreements in the fields of investment, health, electricity and industry, while others were previously signed in March of the same year covering the areas of energy, industry, agriculture and joint investments.

In the same context, Finance Minister Ismail Ismail discussed on Wednesday with Zargar the present state and future of economic, commercial, financial, and banking relations between the two countries.

The two sides also discussed the mechanisms for implementing the joint economic cooperation agreement signed on March 16th 2015, which seeks to provide facilitations to Iranian investors to establish projects in Syria, with Minister Ismail stressing the agreement’s importance in establishing projects in the fields of agriculture, petroleum, energy, and industry.

For his part, Zargar asserted that Iran wants to establish investment and development projects in Syria that meet the aspirations of the two countries and their people.