TEHRAN- The Netherlands’ Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp arrived in Tehran yesterday on the head of a large Dutch trade delegation to investigate new business opportunities in post-sanctions Iran.

Over 60 large Dutch companies active in the energy and agriculture sectors are accompanying Kamp in his trip, according to the IRNA news agency.

The Dutch minister is secluded to meet his Iranian counterpart as well as the other Iranian officials and also attend the third summit meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) which will be held today in Tehran.

A new chapter has opened in the political and economic ties between Iran and the Netherlands after Iran’s nuclear deal with the world’s major powers.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on September 20 mentioned agriculture, ecotourism and industry as a few areas that his country is seeking to cooperate closely with post-sanctions Iran. 

The top diplomat also said that the Netherlands is committed to broaden political, economic and cultural relations with Iran, particularity in the area of gas and oil. 

Zarif, for his part, said that Iran and the Netherlands are determined to improve relations in all areas, although due to unfair sanctions on Iran, the level of trade had dropped. 

The two countries are ready to pick up extensive political and economic relations including in the gas and oil sector which is a traditional trade from Iranian side, the official added.

The Netherlands was the 40th leading importer of Iranian non-oil goods in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-Septemebr 22), according to Iran Customs Administration.

Iran exported $26.724 million of non-oil goods to the Netherlands and imported $415.448 million of non-oil products from the country in the seven-month period.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands was the 38th major importer of Iranian non-oil goods in the past Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, with importing $67.296 million and exporting $1.026 billion of non-oil goods from and to Iran, respectively.

MA/