Gerhard Schroeder, former chancellor of Germany, will lead a 27-member trade mission during a three-day visit to Iran starting Monday.
Schroeder will meet Iranian government officials, including Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mohammad Farhadi, and discuss knowledge-based economic exchanges with the latter on Tuesday.
Leading Germany from 1998 to 2005, Schroeder is currently the chairman of Nord Stream’s board of directors, after being hired as a global manager by investment bank Rothschild, ISNA reported.
Among all the countries visiting Iran following the conclusion of July 14 nuclear deal, Germany had the most avid businesses. It sent 12 trade delegation to regain its pre-sanctions stature in Iran.
First came a 60-member high-ranking mission headed by Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economy and Energy Sigmar Gabriel, who traveled to Iran a few days after the nuclear deal was brokered.
Representatives from major German companies, such as Linde, Siemens, Mercedes, BASF, Volkswagen Group and GIZ, accompanied Gabriel to meet with Iranian officials and business owners to discuss potential areas of cooperation.
The delegation also attended a meeting with members of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. The German vice chancellor also met with President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian and Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh to pave the way for future trade visits.
Early October, the two countries held a joint trade forum in Tehran. The Iran-Germany Trade Forum was hosted by Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, and Iran-Germany Chamber of Commerce.
A 100-strong trade delegation from the European country, headed by the State of Lower Saxony’s Economy Minister Olaf Lies, who is also a member of the board of directors of Europe’s leading automaker Volkswagen, met with Iranian economic players in the forum and expressed the willingness of Lower Saxony-based companies for doing business with Iran.
German exports to Iran sank from €4.7 billion to €2.1 billion ($5.1 billion to $2.3 billion) between 2010 and 2013.
According to German sources, around 80% of machinery and equipment in Iran are of German origin.
