Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez officially inaugurated three dairy factories built by Iranian firms in Venezuela on Monday.
The Iranian ambassador to Caracas, Abdolreza Mesri, and several Venezuelan ministers and officials attended the inauguration ceremony, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported.
Chavez called Iran one of Venezuela's most important friends and praised the advanced technology used in the plant.
The Venezuelan government financed the projects while Iranian firms constructed and equipped the units.
The factories were built over the course of two years.
Iran has planned and constructed 13 dairy factories in Venezuela that process 360 tons of milk per day.
In January, the Iranian Ministry of Industries and Mines announced that 70 projects, mostly run by private sector companies, were being implemented in Venezuela.
The projects are mostly in the areas of automobile and tractor manufacturing and the construction of cement and dairy factories.
However, Iranian companies and organizations are also involved in mining and excavation projects as well as cultural, technological, scientific, and academic activities in Venezuela.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed a memorandum of understanding in Caracas in November 2009 that comprised 270 agreements on cooperation in the areas of agriculture, industry, technology, energy, fisheries, and housing.