German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel heads to Tehran on Monday with planeful of industry executives keen to rebuild trade ties with Iran.
A 100-strong trade delegation of German companies accompany Sigmar Gabriel who will attend ‘Iran-Germany business forum’ at Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA).
The minister is also scheduled to meet ICCIMA President Gholam Hossein Shafei to discuss the grounds that can help increase bilateral trade between Germany and Iran private sectors.
Meanwhile German-Iranian business commission will meet for the first time in 15 years, and forecasts concrete business deals will be announced, but also warned Tehran on Friday that to normalize ties it must accept Israel's right to exist, and stop what he called Iran's decisive role in the Syrian war.
Gabriel is making his second visit to Tehran since the Islamic Republic reached a deal with world powers in July last year to lift economic sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program, in return for curbs on its nuclear activities.
Industrial giant Siemens AG and automaker Daimler will be among the first German firms to benefit from opportunities in Iran.
Exports to Iran jumped 15 percent in the first half of the year to 1.13 billion euros and could reach 4 billion euros in the full year, Michael Tockuss, head of the Hamburg-based German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce told Reuters.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has invited Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to visit Germany.