Iran and Croatia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on joint investment between private sectors of the two countries, Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported.
The MoU was signed during the two-day visit of Iranian Finance and Economic Minister Farhad Dejpasand to the European country last Tuesday and Wednesday.
After a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Croatian Economy Minister Darko Horvat described Dejpasand’s visit to his country as very significant in expansion of economic ties between Iran and Croatia, saying his country has many potentials for cooperation with Iran in the fields of industrial and agricultural products.
Iranian Ambassador to Croatia Mohammad Reza Sadegh, left, sits next to Economy Minister Farhad Dejpasand during talks with Croatian economic officials in Zagreb (Photo: Croatia Chamber of Economy (HGK))
He said the value of trade between Croatia and Iran increased 20% in 2018 from its previous year and expressed hope that it will rise also in 2019.
Dejpasand, who also met Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Central Bank (HNB) Governor Boris Vujčić, said that he expects “bilateral trade between Iran and Croatia be at least doubled”.
The Iranian minister also met President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK), Luka Burilović in Zagreb last Tuesday, according to the chamber’s website.
Dejpasand visited the Croatian Chamber of Commerce to discuss the possibilities of cooperation of the Croatian private sector with Iran, as he held talks with several high Croatian officials about the development of inter-state relations.
The two officials expressed their interest in the development of cooperation in energy, transport, food, agriculture, communications and IT sectors.
Iran is increasingly opening up to privately-owned companies and is particularly interested in the joint performance of Iranian and Croatian companies. In this regard, Croatian companies have been invited to enter not only the Iranian market, but the entire region with 400 million inhabitants.
Burilovic emphasized despite some obstacles in international trade, there is an interest on both sides for development and cooperation. The Croatian Chamber of Economy as the crowning institution of the Croatian economy remains open to all initiatives that will result in the development of economic relations between the two countries and for mutual benefit, Burilovic pointed out.