Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 21
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak says Tehran is Moscow's major partner in the Middle East.
Ample opportunities for boosting comprehensive relations between Iran and Russia can close the two nations more than the past, Novak told IRNA news agency before leaving Moscow for Tehran on Oct. 21.
Novak, heading a 40-member energy delegation is paying a two-day visit to Iran explore ways for boosting the bilateral trade.
The visit is aimed at boosting Iran-Russia annual trade to $10 billion from the current $2 billion.
The Russian delegates are scheduled to have meetings with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh as well as some officials from Iran's ministries of finance and economic affairs, transport and urban development, and energy besides the Central Bank of Iran.
Senior directors of some Russian giant energy and industrial companies such as Gazprom, JSC Zarubezhneft, Bashneft, Gazprom Neft, Rusgeology and RusHydro are among the members of the delegation.
Russian companies have potential to export machinery, equipment, transport devices, casting products, and wooden products, Novak, said, adding that the two sides will discuss a wide range of issues, such as establishing refineries and power plants, vehicle and medicine companies, as well as high-tech industries.
Russia was the 18th major importer of Iranian non-oil goods in the previous Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, with importing and exporting $296.509 million and $667.18 million of non-oil goods from and to Iran, respectively, according to Iran Customs Administration.
Edited by CN