An Australian economic delegation of 22 companies headed by Steven Ciobo, the country’s minister for trade and investment, visited Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) on Wednesday.
Meeting with Iran Chamber President Gholam Hossein Shafei, Steven Ciobo said that Australia and Iran have maintained their relations since 1968 which shows the significance of bilateral relations for both countries. “Meetings with Iranian officials would help boos our relation following the removal of international sanctions against Iran,” he said
According to Ciobo the Australian delegation is seeking out opportunities, buoyed by the prospects in Iran’s mining, oil and gas, and other industries.
“We have reopened our trade office here in Tehran and Australian officials will follow rebuilding trade relations with Iran Chamber of Commerce,” he said.
Referring to strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries after Iran nuclear deal, Gholam Hossein Shafei said Iran and Australia should work on boosting economic cooperation at the same time. “Re-launching the Australian trade office in Tehran marks a new chapter in Iran-Australia economic relations,” Shafei said.
Iran Chamber President Gholam Hossein Shafei said that Iran’s access to markets in Turkey, Iraq and Afghanistan provides a good opportunity for Iran-Australian economic cooperation. He added that Iran’ current capacity in rail, road, aerial, and sea transportation makes it “an important trade hub” in the region.
Signing new agreements
Iran and Australia have signed fresh agreements to forge closer ties, with Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo announcing the dawn of a new age of relationship.
“We are in the dawn of a new age of the relationship with Iran,” Ciobo told a gathering of business leaders in Tehran on Tuesday night.
One of the agreements will help the Australian and Iranian banking sectors collaborate and share information. Another will share Australian expertise and technologies to help Iran manage scarce water resources.
Companies such as Woodside Petroleum, engineering company WorleyParsons and Australian Water Partnership seek to capitalize on historically strong economic ties to stake out a share of business opportunities in Iran.
Representatives of Australia's flagship carrier Qantas Airways, global biotechnology company Cochlear, GrainCorp agribusiness company, Australian Livestock Export Corporation Ltd (LiveCorp) and the universities of Melbourne and Sydney are also tagging along.
At its peak, Australia exported almost $1 billion worth of goods to Iran before nuclear sanctions slashed the trade to below $35 million.
The Australian delegation had B2B meetings with their Iranian counterparts after attending Iran-Australian Business Forum at Iran Chamber of Commerce.
