Iran water and wastewater projects require $22 billion in investment, Iranian Water and Wastewater Company's deputy for planning said on Monday.
Speaking at the first Iran-Germany water and wastewater joint convention, Ali Asghar Qane' added that Iranian companies have skilled human resources and construction and installation capacities on which foreign companies can rely, Fars News Agency reported.
According to Qane', Iran and Germany have always had good relations and even continued their cooperation during the sanctions era.
The joint convention indicates that the two states are determined to exploit each other's untapped potentials.
Underscoring the ideal opportunity created for the private sector, the official added, "Nineteen German companies have attended the present convention, which will continue in the coming months."
Pointing to Iran's economic conditions in post-sanctions era and the implementation of the 14 July nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Qane' said, "Active collaboration between Iran and Germany can definitely produce better results and both sides' interests will be met."
Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian had a meeting with the visiting State Secretary of Germany’s Ministry for Environment and Building Gunther Adler in which he called for more investment in the water sector.
About 58% of wastewater in Iran flow back into the environment, despite the implementation of treatment projects nationwide.
A 2013 study by the World Resources Institute ranked Iran as the world’s 24th most water-stressed nation, putting it at an extremely high risk of future water scarcity.
Average rainfall is around 750 millimeters in the world, while Iran's average precipitation has fallen to 205 mm in the past 15 years, down from 250 mm before a long and hard drought cast a shadow over the country.
