Iran can be a trustworthy energy partner for Europe, said Chairman of Iranian Chamber of Commerce Mohammad Nahavandian.
In a meeting with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov in Bulgaria, Nahavandian referred to global economic downturn and its negative consequences, saying that, "the financial meltdown has brought positive results including countries' focus on expansion of regional cooperation."
"Countries which started regional cooperation with their neighbors have less damaged by the downturn. Bulgaria is the closest European country to Iran and the two countries can work on economic domain," Nahavandian said.
The Iranian economic official has visited Bulgaria along with a delegation from Iran-Bulgaria chamber of Commerce.
Iran's global trade volume has currently hit US $200 billion dollars, he said adding, "the country's economy is so dynamic and Iran can be a dependable partner for Europe and regional nations. Today energy security is very important for Europe and Iran can be a dependable partner for this European strategy."
Mladenov on his part called Iran-Bulgaria trade cooperation in 2010 promising and called for expansion of the trade cooperation.
Also in a meeting with Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce Chairman Simianov, the Bulgarian official said the two countries can work on tourism, drugs, construction and agriculture.
"Bulgaria is an EU member state and is holding rotating Balconies countries' chambers of commerce. Iran and Bulgaria can well work together in regional and European level," he added.
Earlier, Nahavandian said that Iran's GDP of US $870 billion makes it the 17th biggest economy in the world. Iranian export in 2010 reached US $79 billion and imports were at US $59 billion. Iran also has the second largest natural gas reserves in the world with 30 trillion cubic meters, and ranks third in oil reserves with 137 billion barrels.