TEHRAN- Belgian Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Pieter De Crem sees a positive prospect for Iran-Belgium economic cooperation.

De Crem, visiting Iran at the head of a trade delegation, made the statement in a meeting with the director of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture Mohsen Jalalpour in Tehran on Sunday, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

He said: “A delegation of some important Belgian companies is accompanying me in this trip. It is to open doors for economic cooperation between Belgium and Iran.”

Cooperation between the two countries should be promoted first in the short-term and then in the long-term, the official said, adding that Belgian and Iranian chambers of commerce should help expansion of ties between the two countries.

He mentioned investment opportunities, expert manpower and high investment safety in Iran as three prominent factors in the country which make it proper for cooperation with Belgium. He also named energy and environment sectors as well as weaving, gold and diamond industries proper for bilateral cooperation.

Jalalpour, for his part, said Iran and Belgium have had always some friendly relation and it is hoped that their ties will be strengthened when the West-led sanctions are removed against the Islamic Republic.

He said Iran-Belgium economic ties should result in the joint production activities, adding that Iran enjoys high potentialities in terms of human resources and knowledge-based companies that could make it a proper trade partner for Belgium in the region.

The official further mentioned energy and environment sectors as well as manufacturing of industrial equipment as some proper areas for the bilateral cooperation.

Given that weaving is an old industry in Belgium and the country enjoys high expertise in this field, it could be an appropriate area for cooperation between Iran and Belgium, he added.

Belgium was the 32rd leading importer of Iranian non-oil goods in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-Septemebr 22), according to Iranian Customs Administration.

Iran exported $38.263 million of non-oil goods to Belgium and imported $164.484 million of non-oil products from the country in the six-month period.

It is while Belgium was the 42nd major importer of Iranian non-oil goods in the past Iranian calendar year (which ended on March 20), with importing and exporting $47.09 million and $272.062 million of non-oil products from and to Iran, respectively.

MA/