TEHRAN – Iran and Armenia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate in the fields of labor exchange, technical and professional training, as well as, welfare and empowerment of the disabled, IRNA reported.

The MOU, signed by Iranian Labor and Social Welfare Minister Solat Mortazavi and his Armenian counterpart Narek Mkrtchyan in Tehran on Tuesday, also covers economic cooperation between the two countries in the fields of petrochemicals, road and construction materials, and medicine.

Speaking in the signing ceremony, Mortazavi said: “Iran is fully prepared to send labor to Armenia while establishing technical and vocational training centers in the country, and transferring experiences to empower the disabled and war victims.”

Pointing to the increase in the economic exchanges between the two countries, the Iranian official said: “Economic exchanges between Iran and Armenia have increased slightly and reached 700 million dollars, but we should aim for three billion dollars in trade between the two countries and plan to achieve this goal.”

“We are ready to develop trade and commerce with Armenia in order to achieve the three-billion-dollar [annual trade] goal. Our economic experts believe that in the first step, we can export strategic items and products that suit the Armenian market’s needs to the country,” he added.

Mkrtchyan for his part praised Iran’s interest in boosting trade ties with Armenia, saying: “In the few days that we have been in Iran, we established paths of cooperation more than expected, and this is a source of satisfaction.”

“I am sure that by signing this memorandum, we can move things forward and implement the MOU as soon as possible. I am sure that we will make the arrangements so that the Iranian workforce will find Armenia like their home when they enter the country,” he said.

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Photo: Iranian Labor and Social Welfare Minister Solat Mortazavi (R) and his Armenian counterpart Narek Mkrtchyan pose with signed MOUs in Tehran on Tuesday.