Iranian private sector has called on Australia to engage in trade with Iran on non-sanctioned areas and ease visa requirements for Iranian businesspeople having recommendations from the country’s chamber of commerce.
Australian Ambassador to Iran Ian McConville came to Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) headquarters in Tehran on Wednesday where he had a meeting with Iranian private sector actors and businesspersons.
Speaking during the meeting, Niloofar Assadi, the director of Asia-Pacific department of the international affairs of Iran Chamber of Commerce, referred to mines, agriculture and food industry as well as water management and productivity as the main non-sanctioned areas in which Iran and Australia can develop their cooperation.
She referred to Iran’s special position in the Middle East and said that Australia can make use of Iran as a gateway to the market of 500 million people in Central Asia and the region.
Hamidreza Managhebi, the head of Iran-Australia Joint Chamber of Commerce, also addressed the meeting and said that the Iranian oil and gas sector are attractive for foreign investment. He added that once the sanctions on Iran are lifted, Australian companies can participate in excavation, production and processing of Iranian oil and gas.
He also said that agricultural and water areas are another sector which have high potentials for investment.
Managhebi also highlighted the potentials of Iranian mining sector.
In the meantime, the Australian ambassador said that although there are challenges hindering trade and banking relations with Iran, mechanisms can be found to help solve these problems.
He referred to meat exports from Australia to Iran as one of the successful areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The ambassador also said that Australia’s educational, tourism and financial services are among other economic advantages of the country, calling for further cooperation on these areas.