Ireland Upbeat on Trade Prospects With Iran
January 30, 1999 - 0:0
LONDON Irish Foreign Minister David Andrews returned from Tehran Thursday expressing optimism at the outcome of the third joint commission for economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation between Ireland and Iran. A statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said that Iranian authorities told him they would be positively disposed to some or all of the country's demand for some 20,000 tons of beef imports being supplied by Ireland in the next fiscal year.
Andrews was said to have been informed by Iran's minister for Construction Jihad Mohammad Saeedi-Kia that there was nothing to prevent the resumption of trade following Irish and Iranian veterinary experts agreement to lift restrictions last October. The Irish minister was most anxious to translate the agreement into actual exports of beef within the shortest possible time, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
On Monday, the Irish beef board was reported to hope for the announcement of a possible 10,000 tons contract with Iran for the spring, saying it could help determine the outlook for international markets in the coming months. In its statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Andrews signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iranian government dealing with future cooperation in the areas of economic and trade relations, investment, energy, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, science research and education, tourism, air transport, posts and telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.
It said that both sides agreed that there was potential and scope for expansion and diversification in the field of economic and trade relations. During the course of his visit, the Irish foreign minister held talks with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi, Head of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Commerce Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari as well as Saeedi-Kia. In a meeting with Mohammad Khatami, Iran's president was said to have made clear his desire to begin a new era of relations with the rest of the world.
Andrews was said to have been informed by Iran's minister for Construction Jihad Mohammad Saeedi-Kia that there was nothing to prevent the resumption of trade following Irish and Iranian veterinary experts agreement to lift restrictions last October. The Irish minister was most anxious to translate the agreement into actual exports of beef within the shortest possible time, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
On Monday, the Irish beef board was reported to hope for the announcement of a possible 10,000 tons contract with Iran for the spring, saying it could help determine the outlook for international markets in the coming months. In its statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Andrews signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iranian government dealing with future cooperation in the areas of economic and trade relations, investment, energy, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, science research and education, tourism, air transport, posts and telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.
It said that both sides agreed that there was potential and scope for expansion and diversification in the field of economic and trade relations. During the course of his visit, the Irish foreign minister held talks with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi, Head of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Commerce Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari as well as Saeedi-Kia. In a meeting with Mohammad Khatami, Iran's president was said to have made clear his desire to begin a new era of relations with the rest of the world.