TEHRAN- Australian companies are eager to make investment in Iran’s mining projects, according to Gerard Seeber, the senior trade commissioner for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade).

The commissioner of Austrade, which is the Australian Government’s trade, investment, tourism, and education promotion agency, made the statement in a meeting with Mehdi Karbasian, the board of directors’ chairman of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), in Tehran on August 17, the IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

Seeber said Australia is aware of potentialities and advantages that exist in Iran’s mining sector; adding that his country is seeking to bolster ties with Iran in this field.

For his part, Karbasian said Australian companies can contribute to implementation of iron ore, copper, bauxite, potash, titanium and gold mining projects in Iran.

Australia exported over $155.6 million worth of products to Iran in the past Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20.

The country imported $25 million worth of goods from Iran in the previous calendar year, according to Iran Customs Administration.

The International Organizing Committee of the World Mining Congress has ranked Iran as the 8th country in the world in terms of mineral production.  

The organization has put the country’s total mineral production, including metal and non-metal products, precious stones, as well as oil and gas, at $162 billion in 2013.

Foreign companies are racing to secure business opportunities in Iran after Iran and the P5+1 group of countries reached an agreement over Tehran’s nuclear program in the Austrian capital of Vienna on July 14.

MA/