The movement of the Iranian economy toward greater transparency and increased foreign investment has sparked a surge in foreign relations activities.
President Khatami recently visited Cuba for a two-day visit where he was greeted by Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. Khatami, who had been attending the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) summit in Venezuela, became the first Iranian head of state to visit Cuba. Talks between the two officials focused on oil. Cuba relies heavily on oil imports, while Iran is one of the world’s largest suppliers of the resource. Iran and Cuba are both currently under U.S. trade embargoes.
Meanwhile on Iranian soil, 98 German companies are displaying their products at the 26th Tehran International Trade Fair, which opened in the Iranian capital Saturday. The Fair features products offered by over 1,200 companies from 73 nations. Japanese, German and Italian delegations featured strong representation, signaling the improving relations with Japan and Europe.
Relations with the UK are improving as well. Three British trade delegations are to visit Iran in the coming months, IRNA reported. The two countries have been warming to one another economically since they established full diplomatic relations in 1998. Sir Jeremy Hanley, Chairman of British-Iran Chamber of Commerce, remarked, “Now is the time to invest in Iran," calling the $580 million value of bilateral trade between the two nations "disgraceful". He also commended the country on its plans for business liberalization and incentives that are designed to lure foreign investments.
France has recently pushed for increased cooperation with Iran in many fields including water networks, environment, and transportation.
Iraq recently sent its Transport and Telecommunications Minister to Iran to boost relations after the two countries took a step towards improving relations at talks in Venezuela at the OPEC summit. Ahmed Murtada Ahmed Khalil went to Tehran to "further boost relations and increase trade and industrial exchange between the two Muslim neighbors.” Trade between the two nations ahs been increasing steadily since they opened up the common border in 1997.
Although sharing no diplomatic ties, the Iranian-Egyptian ties appear to be slowly thawing, as signaled by a visit of Egyptian Public Sector Minister Mokhtar Khatteb to Tehran for the Trade Fair. The visit marked the first by an Egyptian official to the Islamic Republic, since the end of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran news reported.
Iranian Vice-President, Hassan Habibi, called on foreign companies to invest in the “large market” that his country represents. Habibi conveyed at the opening of the Trade Fair exhibition that Tehran must encourage non-oil exports, by developing tourism, technology and medical expertise. Iran will host the World Tourism Seminar next year concurrent with the World Tourism Day, Deputy Head of Tourism Organization Rajab-Ali Khosro-Abadi in Mashhad, Khorasan Province revealed. Iran holds a small share of the world tourism market, but is engaged in long-term planning to strengthen its position in this sector. –(Albawaba-MEBG)
