ROME -- Minister of Agriculture Jihad and Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries Laurens Jab Brinkhorst discussed here Monday holding the First Joint Iran-Netherlands Seminar on Botanical affairs in Iran.

The meeting which was held on the sidelines of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) meeting aims to exchange experiences on production, marketing and exports of plants and flowers, and on joint investments.

The two sides also decided to choose the representatives from the two nations' private and public sectors in the near future to draw up the details of the joint session.

The two officials also explored ways of cooperation in fisheries, manpower training and shrimp farming and exports.

Netherlands with over $72 billion annual exports in agricultural products and $10 billion in exports of plants and flowers is one of the most active countries in the sector.

FAO meeting is being held with participation of representatives from 182 nations in Rome until Thursday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Energy Minister for Water Affairs Reza Ardekanian said earlier in May that Iran and Netherlands have recently signed an agreement for cooperation in water affairs and irrigation systems.

He added that the agreement stipulates for the two countries to cooperate in alternative irrigation systems, flood-warning systems, environmental impacts of dams, drought management, development of water engineering software, and manpower education and training.

In the short run, he added, Iran and Netherlands will cooperate in two projects in Homan-Hirmand area in Sistan-Baluchestan Province and Urumieh Lake in West Azarbaijan Province.