TEHRAN- Iran is willing to expand its cooperation with the BRICS countries, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a meeting with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in New York on September 25.

BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which are all deemed to be at a similar stage of newly advanced economic development.

There are many potentialities for Iran-Brazil cooperation, Iranian president said and emphasized the necessity of expanding all-out bilateral ties between the two countries, the Tasnim News Agency reported on Saturday.

Brazil has a special status for Iran among all other Latin American countries, Rouhani stated; adding that Iran and Brazil have had always some good relations.

Iran and Brazil should take the advantage of the condition which has been created after Tehran’s nuclear deal with the world’s major powers to strengthen and develop their bilateral relations, the president noted.

He said Brazilian companies can be active in different development sectors as well as capital market of Iran.

Brazil enjoys good capabilities in the industrial, metal and mining sectors. It could contribute to implementation of projects in these sectors in Iran as well, Rouhani added.

He said considering the geographical location of Iran in the region, making joint venture with the country and expanding economic and trade ties with it is a proper opportunity for the other countries.

Rousseff, for her part, said Brazil welcomes expansion of its cooperation with Iran in the BRICS.

She said there are many opportunities for Iran and Brazil to expand their bilateral ties in different economic and trade sectors.

Brazil considers Iran as a regional power and is keen to expand its economic and trade ties with this country, Brazilian president stated; adding: “In this regard, we invite Iranian companies to make investment in Brazil”.

“We also call for expansion of ties with Iran in the fields of science and technology,” she added.

In an interview with the Tehran Times in Tehran on May 2, Romana Dovganyuk, the president of the Brazil-Iran Joint Chamber of Commerce, said Brazilian companies are ready to enter the Iranian market once the Western-led sanctions are lifted against Iran.

She said: “Brazilians are considering Iran as a new market, not only for selling their products, but for establishing their factories and making joint venture.” 

MA/