Business news

MINSK, 7 February (BelTA) – Iran reaffirmed its interest in purchasing products of Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ trademark), and in setting up ventures to make powerful MTZ tractors domestically. A delegation of Belarusian MPs led by Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich met with Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Iranian Minister of Industries, Mines and Trade, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss relevant plans, BelTA learned from the press service of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament.

The parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in strengthening the positions of the two countries through political interaction, intensification of trade and economic ties, and investment cooperation.

The meeting with Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh reviewed the status of the implementation of the 2016-2017 cooperation development roadmap signed in Minsk in May 2016. A number of decisions were made to step up the economic cooperation between Belarus and Iran. For instance, the Iranian part of the working group on industrial cooperation and financial settlements will be headed by the deputy minister of industries, mines and trade (the Belarusian part of the group is chaired by First Deputy Industry Minister Gennady Svidersky). The Export Development Bank of Iran will be a partner in facilitating financial transactions with Belarus.

Besides, the parties expressed mutual interest in bolstering their cooperation in science, technology and implementation of the agreements reached during the meeting of the joint commission for cooperation in higher education, science and technology held in Minsk in July 2016.

During his meeting with the Belarusian parliamentary delegation, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif pointed out that nothing can hamper the improvement of the economic and banking cooperation between Belarus and Iran. He called for stepping up the efforts to strengthen the interparliamentary cooperation and collaboration in other fields.

For his part, Mikhail Myasnikovich noted that Belarus attaches much importance to the development of the cooperation with Iran in different areas.

The participants in the talks emphasized that the high-level political dialogue and exchange of opinions on current cooperation matters are important for proper coordination of positions and approaches in the bilateral format and in the international arena, including in international organizations.