TEHRAN- Germany is ready to provide finance and transfer technology for the implementation of projects in Iran, Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder stated.

He made the statement in a meeting with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh on Tuesday in Tehran, according to the Shana News Agency.

The German official arrived in Tehran on Monday heading a 27-strong German trade delegation to explore ways for the expansion of Iran-Germany trade ties after removal of the West-led sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Mentioning Iran an important oil hub in the world, he said a new chapter will be opened in Tehran-Berlin trade cooperation once the sanctions are removed against Iran.

After his meeting with Schroeder, Zanganeh told the press Iran welcomes investment made by the foreign companies especially German ones in the post-sanctions times.

The minister conditioned participation of German firms in Iran’s projects on having Iranian partners.

German Ambassador to Tehran Michael Freiherr von Ungern-Sternberg has already said that German companies are keen to boost links with Iran and directly invest in the country.

Also, Eric Schweitzer, president of the German Chamber of Commerce (DIHK), said last July that his country plans to double trade with Iran to more than five billion Euros in the short-term and to ten billion Euros in the mid-term.

Germany was the 14th leading importer of Iranian non-oil goods in the previous Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, 2015, according to the Iran Customs Administration.

Iran exported $354.17 million of non-oil goods to Germany and imported $2.33 billion of non-oil goods from the country.

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CAP: Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (R) met Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh on Tuesday in Tehran. (Photo: Shana)