Iran’s private sector has expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Austria in renewable energy and green projects.
“We are strongly interested in joint cooperation with Austria in renewable energy and green projects,” Iran Chamber of Commerce President Samad Hassanzadeh said during a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday with Austrian Ambassador Friedrich Stift. He added that Iran was also seeking collaboration in water resource management, soil technology, knowledge-based services, artificial intelligence, greenhouse production and agriculture.
Noting that trade between the two countries had fallen to minimal levels due to international sanctions, he voiced hope that ties could improve with the arrival of Austria’s new ambassador to Tehran.
Hassanzadeh said political restrictions and sanctions had weakened private-sector relations between the two countries, calling on Austria to facilitate the issuance of business visas for Iranian traders to help revive commercial ties.
Ambassador Stift said sanctions remained a major obstacle for Austrian companies interested in working with Iran, particularly in financial transfers, and expressed hope that Iran could exit the sanctions environment more quickly.
He said bilateral trade stood at around 130 million euros last year, describing the figure as modest and not reflective of Iran’s economic potential as a regional power.
Stift also noted that Austria’s embassy in Tehran had been closed during the 12-day conflict earlier this year but said it would resume accepting visa applications for both business and non-business travelers from Jan. 4. He said Austria had been “shocked” by the attack on Iran and hoped there would be no further escalation.