TEHRAN Iran's Minister of Mines and Industries Es'haq Jahangiri and Tunisia's advisor to minister of industry Rafei Dakhil in their Saturday meeting here emphasized both countries' resolute will to broaden industrial cooperation.

Jahangiri referred to the current trip of the Tunisian prime minister and his accompanying delegation to Iran which he said is a good sign for a flourishing new chapter in the two countries' history of relations, according to IRNA.

He said the cooperation between our two nations is rapidly expanding and the future prospect for such relations is truly promising. He added that Iran is willing to benefit from Tunisia's vast experience in the fields of textile industries and clothes manufacturing.

The Iranian minister said, "Iran produces over one billion square meters of textiles annually, most of which is consumed inside the country, but in order to strengthen our presence at international markets, Tehran is seeking to both increase its textile production and to improve the quality of its products in this field."

Referring to the total volume of Iran's annual exports, Jahangiri added that the major preoccupation of the planners of Iran's industries is to meet the 60-million-plus local market needs, but once that goal is achieved, we wish to increase our non-oil exports as much as possible.

Jahangiri mentioned Iran's successful industrial presence in some Islamic countries, including Syria and Pakistan, announcing Iran's full readiness to fulfil some of Tunisia's industrial demands.

Rafei Dakhil, too, informed the Iranian authority of Tunisia's high potentials in manufacturing spare parts for many types of European cars, most of which is exported to Europe and exporting ready-made garments to the EU. The sum of these two reached around 4 billion dollars in 2000.

Expressing delight over the recent establishment of a joint Irano-Tunisian industrial commission, the Tunisian official said, "Establishment of a joint industrial group will definitely boost the level of our countries' relations."

Reiterating the positive effect of the Tunisian prime minister's trip to Iran on broadening the two-way ties, Dakhil expressed hope that during the current year his country would host the Iranian president and a high-ranking Iranian delegation.