During a visit to Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) by a visiting Cuban trade delegation, the two sides highlighted the significance of further health and medical cooperation between Tehran and Havana.
Speaking during the meeting, ICCIMA Caretaker Deputy for International Affairs Farzad Mehrani, said that both Iran and Cuba are known for their capacities in the area of health and medicine which he said is one of the areas for further cooperation between the two countries.
Mehrani referred to Iran’s capacities in different economic areas, including refineries, ports and so on, adding that considering the positive signals coming from Vienna talks between Iran and world powers, Cuba can seriously mull over investment in different Iranian economic sectors.
He called for devising mechanisms by both Tehran and Havana to help the private sectors and businesspersons of the two countries get more familiar with each other.
Mehrani noted that easing visa requirements and signing different memoranda of understanding, for instance, can help upgrade the level of ties and cooperation between Iran and Cuba.
Tehran and Havana have earlier signed a preferential trade agreement, Mehrani said, while regretting that the agreement has not led to a major surge in bilateral relations.
In the meantime, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment of Cuba Deborah Rivas Saavedra, who led the Cuban delegation to Iran Chamber of Commerce, said that both Iran and Cuba are under US unilateral sanctions which can be seen as a chance for both countries to find new ways for cooperation.
She said that health and medicine, mining, energy, tourism, food industries, and agriculture and livestock are among the areas on which Iran and Cuba can cooperate.
Saavedra referred to tourism industry as the driving engine of the Cuban economy and said that this area has the capacity of attracting much more investment.
She also expressed hope that her country can make use of the Iranian experiences in the oil sector, launching refineries, and excavation, exploration and digging deep wells.