Syrian economy min appreciates Iran’s supports

Syria’s Minister of Economy and Commerce Muhammad Nazal al-Shuar here Wednesday night appreciated Islamic Republic of Iran’s continuous and unlimited support for his country’s political system. According to the IRNA reporter in Damascus, he made the comment before signing the final communiqué of the 9th Joint Commission on Pursuing Economic Cooperation between Islamic Republic of Iran and Arabic Republic of Syria in Damascus. Al-Shuar added, “During the course of the past days the gates were opened for new strategies for bilateral cooperation between the two counties, and meanwhile, we recognize the value of the ratification of agreement by the Islamic Majlis on free trade.” He said that among the cases of reached agreement, there is decreasing the customs tariffs and attempting to eliminate them, buying one billion dollars of Syrian goods and deducting the customs tariffs for them by 60%, and holding an exhibition of Syrian goods as of January 29th for four days in Tehran. The Syrian official added, “We also requested Iran to hold another exhibition of advanced technology in Syria, because the last year’s exhibition received the broad welcome of both the people and the officials in this country.” Al-Shuar reiterated, “Regarding the construction of a medicine factory by Iran in Syria and planting eye cornea in our country, continuing the two countries’ cooperation with Iraq in transportation field, electricity, and increasing the number of pilgrims, too, we reached agreements.” The Ninth Joint Commission on Pursuing Economic Cooperation between Islamic Republic of Iran and Arabic Republic of Syria ended Wednesday night after two days of negotiations and signing two texts of talks. The first text of negotiations is inclusive of the two countries cooperation in the fields of commerce, investments, banking affairs, customs clearance, agriculture, farming improvement methods, tourism, pilgrims, health, electricity projects, power plant projects, oil, gas and industrial projects, by Iran, which was signed by Islamic Republic of Iran’s Minister of Roads and Rural Development Ali Nikzad and the Syrian Arabic Republic’s Economy and Commerce Minister Muhammad nazal al-Shuar. The second text of negotiations is on air, land, sea, and rail transportation, which was signed by Iran’s Deputy Roads and Rural Development Minister and Head Road keeping and Roads Transportation Organization of Iran Shahriar Afandizadeh and Deputy Syrian Transportation Minister Mahmoud Zanboua, in the presence of the two countries’ ministers. Iran and Syria meanwhile established a Supreme Commission for Increasing Business Transaction between the Two countries, headed by the IRI First Vice President and the Syrian Prime Minister, whose annual sessions would be held alternatively in the capitals of the two countries. The last session of the two countries joint commission was held in winter of 2010 in Tehran and the one before that, in the spring or 2010 in Damascus. The two sides have agreed on five billion dollars trade balance ad the horizon of economic cooperation. The current volume of trade between the two countries is about 500 million dollars, and the figure is not inclusive of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s technical and engineering services exports to Syria, which is 1.7 billion dollars. Iran’s Minister of Roads and Rural Development in the course of his visit of Syria besides participation at the said commission also met and conferred with top Syrian officials, including Prime Minister Adel Safar, and some Syrian ministers, exchanging opinion on issues of mutual interest. The Iranian and his accompanying delegation that had arrived in Syria on Tuesday morning departed Damascus of Tehran late Wednesday night.