Tehran, Dec 4, IRNA – New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay said on Sunday that Wellington government is willing to draw up a roadmap for economic cooperation with Iran and set up a joint committee to promote trade ties.He made the proposal in a meeting with Iran's Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh in Tehran.
He called for cooperation on research, development and innovation.
Stressing the need for compiling a roadmap for strengthening industrial and trade relations, he said that New Zealand banking and insurance experts are currently on a visit to Iran to help resolve problems facing these sectors.
McClay voiced Wellington's interest to boost ties with Iran, saying that New Zealand boasts of suitable capacities in the refining and dairy industries.
Ne'matzadeh, for his part, said that Iran-New Zealand ties have always been excellent, noting that however proper plans should be made to help raise level of exchanges.
Stressing the need for removal of banking obstacles and strengthening ties between the two countries' banks, he said that bilateral and multilateral talks between the Iranian and New Zealand banks would be useful to regulate the banking and commercial relations.
Nematzadeh said that Iran possesses remarkable capabilities in the oil and petrochemical, agricultural products, communications, plastic and tool manufacturing sectors, and is ready for promoting ties with New Zealand in the spheres.
He declared Iran's willingness for joint investment ventures on implementing projects and transfer of technology know-how, saying that Iran's situation in the region has prepared a suitable ground for using neighboring states' markets of 400-million.
That's for the same reason most of the countries favor boosting ties with Iran, Nematzadeh said.
McClay arrived in Tehran on December 2 at the head of high-ranking trade delegation comprising representatives of 18 companies.
Upon arrival in Tehran, he described Iran as a traditional partner of New Zealand, saying that the two countries' commercial exchanges are projected to reach 708.8 million dollars a year.
The New Zealand minister said in a meeting with Governor of Central Bank of Iran Valliollah Seif that his country has the most commercial exchanges with Iran in the Middle East.