Iran, Venezuela Ministers Call for Expansion of Economic Ties

Iranian Minister of Industries and Mines Ali Akbar Mehrabian and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduru Moros in a meeting in Caracas underscored the necessity for increasing economic cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting on Sunday, the two officials reviewed the latest regional and international developments and called for promotion of economic and industrial cooperation.

Mehrabian, for his part, underscored the need for further expansion of Iran-Venezuela all-out ties. Referring to the positive trend of activities of the Iranian companies in Venezuela, Mehrabian said according to a bilateral agreement, Iran-Khodro car manufacturing factory is to increase its exports to Venezuela by 5,500 vehicles by the year-end.

He added that while Washington is trying to exert pressures on both Iran and Venezuela, the two countries should boost bilateral cooperation in all areas in order to counter such pressures. For his part, the Venezuelan FM praised the activities of the Iranian companies in his country, welcoming Tehran's new projects for export of more vehicles to Venezuela.

Maduro also praised the holding of an exhibition on Iran's commercial and industrial potentials in his country. Mehrabian, heading a delegation, arrived in Caracas on Wednesday to visit the Iranian exhibition. More than 30 Iranian companies displayed their products at the four-day exhibit which was opened on Thursday. - Fars