President Rouhani Urges Development of Scientific, Economic Ties with World States

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on the country’s envoys to the Asian, European, African and Latin American states to double efforts to expand the country’s relations with the world, specially in scientific and economic fields.
Rouhani made the remarks in separate meetings with new Iranian ambassadors to Germany, China, Romania, Tunisia, Bolivia and Colombia on Tuesday before their departure to the countries of their mission.

During the meetings, the president described constructive approach in foreign policy strategies and utmost protection of the national interests as the main policy and goal of his administration in the diplomatic arena, and stressed the necessity for further efforts by the envoys to consolidate relations with the world states, specially in scientific and economic fields.

President Rouhani also wished success for the new Iranian envoys to the six countries.

Different world states have shown eagerness to further expand ties with Iran after Tehran and the world powers inked the Geneva deal in November to settle the dispute over the country’s nuclear program.

In January, Iranian Deputy Economy Minister Behrouz Alishiri underlined the upward trend of foreign investment in Iran despite the US-led unilateral sanctions against the country.

Alishiri pointed to the willingness of foreign investors to return to the Iranian market, and said, “The negative effects on (the economies of) the countries that have imposed sanctions on Iran have been much greater than Iran and we have learnt big lessons from the sanctions, including quitting oil-dependent economy as has been required by the Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2010-2015).”

He pointed to the programs of the Iranian Investment Organization for attracting further foreign investment in the next Iranian year (starts March 21, 2014), and said, “Dispatching economic attaches to target countries to persuade and enhance attraction of foreign investment, paving the way for the visit of World Bank experts to Iran, holding joint economic commission with China … are among the organization’s measures.”

Also, Head of the Trade Development Organization of Iran Valiollah Afkhamirad underlined at the time that implementation of the Geneva nuclear deal sealed by Iran and the Sestet of the world powers late in November has provided very good opportunity for the presence of international investors in Iran.

“After Geneva deal with the western governments, a suitable atmosphere has been provided for activity of investors in Iran and they have become highly interested in business with Iran,” the Iranian official said at a meeting of Confederation of the Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industries.

Afkhamirad further said that if foreign investors registered their company in Iran, they would enjoy equal terms with Iranian companies.

He said that free trade zones and special economic zones would put good facilities at the disposal of foreign investors and economic activists.

On November 24, Iran and the world powers sealed a six-month Joint Plan of Action to lay the groundwork for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over its nuclear energy program. In exchange for Tehran’s confidence-building bid to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the Sextet of world powers agreed to lift some of the existing sanctions against Tehran and continue talks with the country to settle all problems between the two sides.