BANDAR ABBAS, Hormozgan Province Syrian Minister of Transportation Makram Ubayd here on Tuesday said that Iran, along with four other countries, are taking part in a tender it has made for the purchase of ships.

He made the remark while visiting different sections of the Persian Gulf Ship Manufacturing Company and Shahid Rajaei Port Complex in this southern province.

Ship manufacturing companies from Iran, Korea, China and Germany have participated in the tenders recently announced by Syria, he added.

Ubayd further said that during his visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, he will evaluate the country's ship manufacturing potentials as well as the potentials of Shahid Rajaei Port.

Referring to the close political cooperation between Iran and Syria, he expressed the hope that Tehran-Damascus trade relations, particularly in the area of ship manufacturing, will reach the level of institutionalized bilateral cooperation.

The Syrian minister said that the ships which his country plans to buy are multipurpose ships that will have the capacity of carrying 63,000 tons of goods. He predicted the purchase would cost $30-35 million.

As to the potentials of Shahid Rajaei Port, he stressed that the port is considered one of the world's advanced ports.

Meanwhile, Mostafa Karbalaei, managing director of the Persian Gulf Ship Manufacturing Company briefed the Syrian minister on the potentials and capabilities of his company in the area of ship manufacturing and building of oil platforms.

(IRNA)