Germany ready to help advancement of Iran's auto industry

German Ambassador to Tehran Michael Freiherr von Ungern-Sternberg underlined his country's preparedness to assist Iran's further progress in the auto-making industry.

The German government and investors are ready to cooperate with Iran in the development of auto-making industry in Bam city (Southeastern Iran), Ungern-Sternberg made the remarks in a meeting with Bam officials on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Bam's Governor Reza Ashk appreciated the German government and nation for their efforts to reconstruct the city after the 2003 devastating quake.

In relevant remarks last month, Ungern-Sternberg described his country as Iran's biggest economic and trade partner.

"Germany is the biggest European partner of Iran in the field of economy," the German envoy said in a meeting with Khorassan Razavi governor general in the city of Mashhad, Northeastern Iran.

He noted that Germany is seriously monitoring the economic and industrial activities in Iran, and said, "The German embassy in Tehran has good relations with the chamber of commerce; we have joint Iran-Germany Chamber of Commerce that I think is the only independent chamber in Iran."

Ungern-Sternberg voiced his country's willingness to help the city of Mashhad to launch its underground system, and said, "A German metro operating firm which has a representative office in Tehran can help Mashhad to launch its underground system."

Also in November, Iran's Ambassador to Germany Ali Majedi vowed to do his best to pave the way for the rapid growth of Tehran-Berlin economic relations to turn the European nation into Iran's top economic partner.

"When I was Iran's ambassador in Japan (2000-2004) that country became Iran's top trading partner and now I want to do the same thing with Germany," Majedi said in a meeting with the Berlin-based business group Berliner Wirtschaftsgespraeche.

Majedi went on to say that this objective won't be easy because unlike Japan, there are no major energy ties between Germany and Iran but it is available.

German-Iranian trade volume is around 2.1 billion euros right now but we have the capacity to reach six billion euros again, according to Majedi.

He called for greater bilateral trade cooperation in the automotive and medical sector.

Majedi urged also German banks and financial institutions to cooperate better with the Iranian side.

Iran and Germany have tried to expand their bilateral relations in recent years through reciprocal visits by the two countries' officials.