Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 8
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran and Spain agreed to cooperate on manufacturing equipment for petrochemical industries jointly in Iran, deputy head of Iran's National Petrochemical Company Mohammad Hassan Peyvandi, said.
He referred to the meeting between Spanish Minister of Industry, Energy, and Tourism José Manuel Soria López and Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, which was held in Tehran on Sept. 7, adding that Spain's expertise can be utilized in promoting renewable energy in Iran, Shana news agency reported on Sept. 8.
"Over the past 10-15 years, Iran has made investment to boost its industrial infrastructures. Iranian companies have raised their knowledge and capability. Foreign companies should launch joint production projects in Iran."
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Spanish Economy and Competitiveness Minister Luis de Guindos in a meeting in Madrid on April 15 called for improving relations in all areas of economy, especially in tourism and energy sectors.
Before the imposed sanctions on Iran, the country was exporting about 21.226 million tons of petrochemical products worth $15 billion.
But the figure decreased to 14.492 million tons in a fiscal year corresponding to 2012 and this level remained unchanged until last year, when the figure increased by 18.8 million tons.
During the first four months of the current fiscal year, started on March 21, Iran exported 8.171 million tons, while the production volume stood at 15.66 million tons.
