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Dutch environment minister 'jealous' of Iran's sun (exclusive)

Business Materials 24 October 2016 16:36 (UTC +04:00)
The Netherlands’ Minister of Infrastructure and Environment Melanie Schultz van Haegen is in Iran to discuss various grounds of cooperation with Iranian officials
Dutch environment minister 'jealous' of Iran's sun (exclusive)

Tehran, Iran, October 24

By Mehdi Sepahvand –- Trend:

The Netherlands’ Minister of Infrastructure and Environment Melanie Schultz van Haegen is in Iran to discuss various grounds of cooperation with Iranian officials.

Speaking to Trend about the mutual ties, she compared the two countries’ natural resources, saying the Netherlands has a lot more water than Iran, but said she was “jealous” of Iran’s sun exposure.

She went on to underline that Iran and the Netherlands have many similar challenges, which provide the opportunity for close cooperation.

“I just arrived yesterday. Some contracts have to be signed this week. Most of the meetings are about water management, maritime, and port development. Yesterday I had a meeting with Energy Minister Mr. Hamid Chitchian, where we signed an MoU on cooperation between the two countries, especially on tackling the issues of water scarcity, water reuse,” she said.

“We face the same challenges. One of the things we have in common for example is the salt intrusion problem, infecting the ground water reserves. On this we are working together.”

Mrs. Schultz van Haegen said he will have more meetings in Tehran today.

“This morning I saw the minister of transport on totally different subjects: aviation, road, and transport. And his afternoon I will meet the vice president for environment Masumeh Ebtekar to discuss climate change.”

On the sidelines of her meeting with Iran's Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian October 23, the Renewable Energy Organization of Iran (SUNA) signed a cooperation agreement with a Dutch company on the construction of a solar power plant in Iran.

Although the Islamic Republic has a lot of sun exposure, strong winds, etc., Iran draws only 0.01 percent of its electricity output from energy.

On October 24 morning during Schultz van Haegen’s meeting with Iran’s Minister of Transport Abbas Akhondi, the two countries signed an MoU on logistic cooperation, investment, launching a joint committee for exchange of experts, management education, and executive affairs.

During that meeting, Akhondi said Iran and the Netherlands had signed a comprehensive document on cooperation on maritime and port development, as well as investment in Iran’s Port Chabahar and road transit, noting that currently 800 Iranian trucks transit goods to the Netherlands.

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