Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 24
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Iran and Netherlands have signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in agricultural sphere.
Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands Henk Kamp and Iranian agriculture minister, Mahmoud Hojjati, signed a document on development of greenhouses, water efficiency strategies and supplying products to joint markets, IRNA news agency reported Nov 24.
Hojjati expressed hope that bilateral ties between Iran and the Netherlands will increase following the implementation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCOPA) between Tehran and the world powers.
Henk Kamp arrived in Tehran November 22 to participate in the third summit of the leaders of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). Netherlands holds the status of an observer at the GECF.
The third summit of the leaders of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum wrapped up Nov.23 in Tehran. Russia, Iran, Qatar, Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and the United Arab Emirates, are main members of the GECF. Observer countries are the Netherlands, Iraq, Oman, Peru, Azerbaijan and Norway.
The non-oil trade turnover between Iran and the Netherlands stood below $300 million last year, whereas it had hit $2.3 billion eight years ago.
The decline in trade volume followed the international sanctions against the Islamic Republic, which is hoping to redeem the past days after it reached a comprehensive deal with world powers in July.
Iran's major exported goods to the Netherlands have been oil, chemicals, machinery, food, industrial goods, fruits and concentrates, construction material, carpet, dates, and honey.
Dutch exports to Iran have mainly consisted of industrial machinery, chemicals and petrochemicals, dairy products, raw materials and equipment for making livestock food, seeds and saplings, medical equipment, laboratory equipment, and drugs.