Iran,Lanka to enhance trade ties

Disna Mudalige

Iran is interested in enhancing trade ties with Sri Lanka and is exploring more investment possibilities in Sri Lanka, said External Affairs Deputy Minister Neomal Perera.

External Affairs Deputy Minister Neomal Perera meeting ranian External Affairs Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister for Asia, Oceania and Commonwealth Countries Dr Abbas Araghchi yesterday. Picture by Ruwan de Silva

He was addressing the media after meeting Iranian External Affairs Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister for Asia, Oceania and Commonwealth Countries Dr Abbas Araghchi at the External Affairs Ministry yesterday. Dr Araghchi visited Sri Lanka as a special envoy of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Deputy Minister Neomal Perera said the opportunities to export more tea to Iran were discussed at the meeting.

The government has also requested from the delegation to reduce the duty for packeted tea to be exported to Iran. This move will also provide Sri Lankan tea more marketing opportunities to countries around Iran.

The deputy minister also said bilateral discussions also focused on initiating a free visa system between the two countries. He said under this move, Sri Lankans and Iranianians would be allowed to visit each others’ countries with no visa. This system would be implemented after signing the documents in this regard by the relevant parties in the near future. He said once agreement on this issue is reached, this would be a giant step forward in bilateral relations.

During his visit Dr Araghchi is to personally deliver a letter from the Iranian President to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to attend the 16th Summit of the Heads of States and Governments of the Non Aligned Movement in Tehran from August 30 -31, 2012.

Issues pertaining to petroleum trade between the two countries over the US and EU sanctions had been also discussed during the meeting. Petroleum Industry Ministry Secretary Dr R H S Samaratunaga, BOI and Industry and Commerce Ministry representatives also participated in this meeting.