TEHRAN – A delegation of Iranian officials, experts and businesspeople has visited China to explore avenues of cooperation in the fishery industry between the two countries, Mehr Nes Agency reported.

During their visit, the delegation visited major fishery companies and holdings and held meetings with Chinese officials to discuss ways of expanding cooperation and technology transfer.

According to Mohammad-Ali Javadi, a government official who was a member of the mentioned delegation, this trip has provided new opportunities for the development of Iran’s fishery industry.

Exploring investment opportunities, transferring knowledge and technology, and strengthening business relations were the main goals of the visit of Iranian delegation to China, Javadi said.

According to Javadi, all the field visits and meetings were focused on investment, transfer of knowledge and technology, and expansion of trade, and these issues were discussed in all meetings and negotiations.

Upon arrival to China, the delegation held a meeting with Iranian ambassador to Beijing in which diplomatic and economic relations between Iran and China were discussed.

They also met with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture of China, where the main issues of investment and cooperation mechanisms, such as the 25-year agreement between Iran and China, were discussed.

“In these meetings, issues related to technology transfer and China's progress in the field of aquaculture were also discussed,” Javadi said.

Vising China’s fishery poles

The Iranian delegation then visited China’s major port cities of Qingdao and Zhanjiang.

“China has two main poles in the field of aquaculture; Qingdao and Zhanjiang. We visited big companies such as Mingbo Fishing Tackle, Zhanjiang Guolian Aquatic Products Company, and Evergreen Corporation in these two cities. Mingbo company has significant achievements in the field of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and this technology can be used in Iranian projects,” Javadi noted.

New investment, trade opportunities

According to Javadi, Gulian Company, which is one of the largest seafood production companies in China, announced its readiness to purchase Iranian fishery products.

The official said this company also operates in the field of cage aquaculture and shrimp farming and produces 200,000 tons of seafood annually, and most of its raw materials are supplied through imports.

“With successful experience in Egypt, Evergreen has the ability to invest and implement large fisheries projects in Iran and can participate in Iran's fisheries projects,” Javadi said.

Specialized exhibitions; A window to expand business co-op

Javadi further mentioned visiting the seafood production exhibition in Guangzhou and said: “In this exhibition, the opportunity to learn about new technologies of aquaculture and explore cooperation opportunities was provided.”

“We also had a meeting with the members of the Guangzhou Aquaculture Union, which is made up of 13 large companies that import fishery products. This union announced its readiness to import up to 100,000 tons of Iran's fishery products if the product is provided by Iran,” he noted.

EF/MA