Iran, EU in Food Know-How Agreement

As part of the European Union’s trade mission visiting Iran, headed by chief of EU’s Agriculture and Rural Development Commission, Phil Hogan, the exchange of technology and know-how was emphasized in the area of edible oil industry. During a tour of Margarine oil factory–Iran’s biggest cooking oil manufacturer–a member of the EU mission praised Iran’s capacity in the industry and called for ways of expanding Iranian exports to that continent, ILNA reported on Tuesday. Jafar Biralvand, CEO of Margarine, said joint research between Iran and EU in food industry could create favorable opportunities for both sides in enhancing food quality, variety and safety. “We are currently exporting to neighboring countries, Persian Gulf states and Russia, but we are seeking partnership with Europe on a specialized basis,” Biralvand said. According to Eurostat data, Iran’s trade with the European Union stood at €13.1 billion in the eight months ending August 2017, almost double compared with the same period of last year.