AHVAZ, Khuzestan Prov. (IRNA) — Officials from National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) and Venezuela's Deputy Oil Minister Lusi Vierma on Wednesday inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on expansion of mutual cooperation between the two countries.

At the meeting, the two sides explored avenues for broadening of mutual cooperation in drilling sector.

Based on the MOU, Iran is committed to set up workshops and training courses in drilling for Venezuelan workers and implement drilling projects in Venezuela's oil and gas fields.

Venezuela's deputy oil minister and his entourage arrived in Ahvaz, the capital city of the southwestern province of Khuzestan on Tuesday to inspect various oil and gas projects in the province.

NIDC is among leading drilling companies in the Middle East, with 49 off-shore and onshore drilling platforms. It is an affiliate to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).