Mehr News Agency, Iran
Sept 30 2005

Iran to expand trade with Algeria, Sri Lanka, Armenia

TEHRAN, Sept. 30 (MNA) – Iran is to expand its trade ties with
Algeria, Sri Lanka and Armenia in a move to promote joint investment
in various economic sectors, the Economic Affairs and Finance
Minister Danesh-Jafari emphasized in three separate meetings held
last week with his counterparts from the said countries.
Algeria and Iran are members of the same group in the World Bank (WB)
and IMF. In 2004, Algeria headed the group in WB while Iran kept the
same group position at the IMF. So it is of paramount importance to
develop further the role of effective investment in both countries,
said Jafari.

Iran may benefit a lot from Sri Lanka’s know-how in tea industry by
applying the proven techniques in order to promote its tea
production. Encouraging Sri Lanka to invest in this sector was
another matter that was jointly discussed, the minister stated.
Jafari’s counterpart also expressed his appreciation for the credit
facilities given to his country by Iran to purchase oil in return.

The finance minister also kept a meeting with his Armenian
counterpart Karen Chshmaritian in the office branch of Iran at the WB
headquarters in another occasion and asked for a joint economic
session in the near future and solving the minor problems standing on
the way of investments by the Iranian companies in Armenia. He
emphasized on mutual assistance for further development in various
economic fields, particularly in transportation sector at the
conclusion of their talk.