Iran, Slovenia vow to broaden economic ties

Iranian and Slovenian officials in a meeting in Tehran on Sunday underlined the need for the expansion of bilateral ties. During the meeting in the Iranian capital on Sunday, Chairman of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce Gholam-Hossein Shafeyee and Chairman of Slovenia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry Samu Kheribar Milich signed an economic agreement on avoidance of double taxation. The Iranian and Slovenian officials also agreed to establish a joint cooperation council and prepare the ground for execution of previous agreements including establishment of a shipping line. Shafeyee noted that there are good grounds for increasing cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors in all areas, including transit of goods. The Slovenian official, for his part, referred to Iran’s key economic role in the region and called his visit to Iran as important. He called for the expansion of trade exchange between the two countries. The Slovenian parliament speaker heading a high-ranking political, economic, trade and parliamentary delegation arrived in Tehran on Saturday morning. The Slovenian economic delegation comprises experts on energy, banking, electricity, telecommunications and agriculture. Iran and Slovenia have expanded bilateral relations and mutual cooperation in different fields in recent years. Earlier this month, Slovenian President Borut Pahor in a meeting with new Iranian Envoy to Ljubljana Morteza Darzi Ramandi announced that the two countries have decided to open a new chapter in their bilateral relations and mutual cooperation. During the meeting, Pahor said that Iran is an important and historical state, serving as the hub of stability in the region. The president said that Iran and Slovenia would hold consultations to open a new chapter in bilateral relations. He hailed the Iranian government's foreign policy and constructive engagement with the world states, including the expansion of relations with the European Union and promotion of relations with Slovenia. Darzi Ramandi, for his part, said that Iran is eager to expand economic and commercial ties with Slovenia.