Syria and Iran discuss ways to enhance cooperation in trade, housing, transport and reconstruction

Damascus-Sana

An Iranian delegation headed by Minister of Roads and Urban Construction, Chairman of the Higher Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation between Syria and Iran, Mohammad Islami, discussed with a number of ministers separately ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of trade, housing, transport and reconstruction.

The Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Dr. Samer Al-Khalil discussed with the Iranian Minister and the accompanying delegation the mechanisms of enhancing trade and economic exchanges and expanding investment fields between the two countries at the ministry building in Damascus.

The participants pointed to the need to continue to motivate companies from both countries to communicate more and offer practical solutions to increase trade exchange, such as the establishment of a railway link between the two countries and the opening of crossings between Syria and Iraq and the creation of a joint Syrian-Iranian-Iraqi committee to oversee the protection of shipments between the two countries.

Minister Al-Khalil told SANA that economic contacts with the Iranian side have been intensified over the past months, which resulted in the signing of a number of agreements, the most important of which is the long-term strategic economic cooperation agreement.

For his part, the Iranian minister stressed his country's desire to increase the volume of bilateral trade exchange, pointing out that the Damascus International Fair is an important opportunity for businessmen to identify the requirements of the Syrian market and enhance trade exchange between Syria and other countries.

In the same context, the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Eng. Suhail Abdul-Latif, discussed with the Iranian Minister of Roads and City-building and the accompanying delegation possible mechanisms of cooperation in the field of reconstruction, housing and infrastructure between the two countries at the ministry building in Damascus.

The minister pointed out the importance of forming working committees and a specialized executive team from the ministry and its affiliates to activate the memorandum of understanding that was signed with the Iranian side in the fields of public works and housing.

For his part, the minister pointed out the importance of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in the reconstruction phase and its active role in seeking to establish joint Iranian-Syrian companies. Typical projects in the construction of industrial cities.

The Minister of Transport Eng. Ali Hammoud also discussed with the Iranian Minister of Roads and City Building and the accompanying delegation ways of developing cooperation in the fields of land, sea and air transport between Syria and Iran in the ministry building in Damascus.

Minister Hammoud stressed Syria's desire to increase cooperation with the Iranian side in the field of transport, stressing the importance of accelerating the implementation of the project linking Syria with Iran by land and rail line to facilitate the flow of goods and products between the two countries of all kinds.

For his part, the Iranian minister expressed his country's desire to implement projects agreed by the two sides to develop rapidly and increase trade cooperation between them, stressing the importance of upgrading economic relations between the two countries to keep pace with the depth and strength of political relations.

The meetings were attended by Iranian Ambassador to Syria Jawad Turkabadi and Syrian Ambassador to Iran Dr. Adnan Mahmoud.