Portugal’s private sector is ready to expand economic ties with Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, said the head of the European country’s chamber of commerce, Paulo Nunes de Almeida.
In a meeting with deputy head of ICCIMA, Pedram Soltani, on Sunday, Almeida noted that technical and engineering services, industries, tourism and technology are suitable fields for cooperation between the two sides and announced that specialized delegations in tourism will visit Iran in April and May.
“We intend to have long-term cooperation and joint investments with Iranian firms,” Donya-e-Eqtesad quoted Almeida as saying.
Soltani said the Iranian government is shifting focus from state-dominated economy to giving a more significant role to the private sector and said the Iranian economy is in transition.
“An array of foreign envoys has travelled to Iran in the past few months, all hoping for expanding economic exchanges with Iran, once anti-Iran sanctions are gone,” he said.
The ICCIMA deputy head noted that Tehran-Lisbon trade is insignificant, but said the shared elements in their cultural and historical backgrounds would set the stage for the improvement of relations.
Soltani also viewed the performance of Portuguese companies in cork production as impressive and floated the idea of joint investment by the two countries in this business.
“To access the regional markets, the final stages of cork production by the Portuguese firms could be carried out in Iran,” he said.
“Given the water crisis in Iran, Portugal can implement projects on water and wastewater treatment in Iran as well.”
