Iran’s private companies interested in trade with Sri Lanka

Teheran: Iran’s private companies are interested in the expansion of trade exchanges with Sri Lanka, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday when he met with Speaker of Sri Lankan parliament Karu Jayasuriya.

Speaking during the meeting in Tehran with Sri Lankan Speaker, Zarif said that the Iranian companies are ready to make investments in technical and engineering sectors of Sri Lanka.

Referring to longstanding relations between the two countries, the Iranian Foreign Minister called for further enhancement of relations between Iran and Sri Lanka in different political, parliamentary and economic areas.

The Sri Lankan parliament speaker, for his part, said Sri Lanka is eager to promote relations with Tehran in all areas. “Removal of the western sanctions on Tehran has paved the way for the further development of ties,” Jayasuriya said.

The two sides also discussed transfer of technology, exports of Iranian oil to Sri Lanka, agricultural cooperation as well as cooperation in international bodies, Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Earlier today, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and his Sri Lankan counterpart in a meeting in Tehran called for the removal of banking barriers impeding trade exchanges between the two countries, Iran’s FARS news agency said.

“There is a need for finding a solution to the banking issues,” Larijani said during the meeting in the Iranian capital.

The Iranian parliament speaker called on country’s contractors to use the existing opportunities which have emerged in the field of technical and engineering services.

“The Iranian businessmen should spare no efforts to make of the opportunities created for imports and exports between Iran and Sri Lanka,” Larijani added.