- Title: German firms sign contracts in Iran on trade mission
- Date: 3rd October 2016
- Summary: TEHRAN, IRAN (OCTOBER 3, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SIGN IRAN-GERMANY BUSINESS FORUM VARIOUS OF GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER SIGMAR GABRIEL AT BUSINESS FORUM AUDIENCE GABRIEL SPEAKING AUDIENCE PAINTING OF IRAN'S FORMER LEADER AYATOLLAH RUHOLLAH KHOMEINI WIDE BUSINESS FORUM GABRIEL WALKING TO MICROPHONES JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER SIGMAR GABRIEL, SAYING: "Traditionally, Iran has very good relations with Germany. They have not been developed, naturally, because of the political conflicts of the last couple of years. Iran wants German technology. At the same time, there are substantial market opportunities here for mechanical installations, for everything that is big industry in Germany. But we also have to warn that one must not expect miracles. There won't be economic success from one day to the next if one was isolated from the world market for 15 or 20 years. Politically, we want to support the current government in the course of opening up." GABRIEL SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER SIGMAR GABRIEL, SAYING [ON SYRIA]: "We all rely on the fact that all parties of the conflict work together to end this deadly war. That applies to Russia, that applies also to Iran how support the regime over there. And many people suffer because of that. Iran is one of the big cultures in the world, and I think we must also appeal to the sense of responsibility of such an important country. We are glad that they take part in the talks with Saudi Arabia, with Russia, with the US. And we, as in the world community, all want an end of the conflict." ECONOMY MINISTRY VARIOUS OF TALKS OF GABRIEL WITH IRANIAN ECONOMY MINISTER ALI TAYEBNIA VARIOUS OF GABRIEL AND TAYEBNIA SIGN CONTRACTS ABOUT TRADE
- Embargoed: 18th October 2016 13:19
- Keywords: Iran Germany trade
- Location: TEHRAN, IRAN
- City: TEHRAN, IRAN
- Country: Iran
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00152G83NX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:German firms have signed a range of business deals with Iranian partners as part of two-day visit with Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel aimed at rebuilding trade ties, the minister said on Monday (October 3).
Gabriel has flown to Iran with a planeload of executives who are keen to re-establish business relations with the Islamic Republic after it reached a landmark deal with world powers over its disputed nuclear program.
However, remaining U.S. sanctions and political concerns have so far held back a hoped-for business boom.
"Traditionally, Iran has very good relations to Germany," said Gabriel on the sidelines of the business forum. "But we also have to warn that one must not expect miracles. There won't be economic success from one day to the next if one was isolated from the world market for 15 or 20 years.
The ministry said several German Mittelstand firms, the small-to-medium-sized companies that form the backbone of the economy, had signed deals with Iranian partners including SMS group, a builder of steelmaking plants, and INTRA industrial solutions.
Mitsubishi Germany has also signed a contract to modernise a gas-fired plant, while plant constructor Keller HCW wants to build a brickyard in Iran, it said. Both countries' central banks have also agreed to a technical co-operation.
But there was no detail on the size of the agreed deals.
Iran's Deputy Economy Minister Mohammad Khazaei said earlier that 10 economic agreements would be signed on the sidelines of Gabriel's visit.
Germany, which has commercial and cultural ties with Iran that go back to the 19th century, was for decades a major trading partner of Tehran before the sanctions allowed China and several other nations to overtake it.
Gabriel is making his second visit to Tehran since the Islamic Republic reached a deal in July last year which lifted economic sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme, in return for curbs on its nuclear activities.
Gabriel said earlier that Germany wants to help Iran push ahead with reforms, and promised to remind the United States of its commitment to reduce sanctions against Iran.
Exports to Iran jumped 15 percent in the first half of the year to 1.13 billion euros and could reach 4 billion euros in the full year, said Michael Tockuss, head of the Hamburg-based German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce.
Gabriel also expressed his hopefulness that all conflict parties in the Syrian conflict will work together to end the war. "We all rely on the fact that all parties of the conflict work together to end this deadly war. That applies to Russia, that applies also to Iran how support the regime over there. And many people suffer because of that. Iran is one of the big cultures in the world, and I think we must also appeal to the sense of responsibility of such an important country. We are glad that they take part in the talks with Saudi Arabia, with Russia, with the US. And we as in the world community all want an end of the conflict." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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