(IRNA) - Iran and Austria here Friday discussed avenues for bolstering bilateral cooperation in the trade and commercial fields, in particular on expansion of interaction between their private sectors, reports Trend.
The head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines Ali-Naqi Khamoushi, who is back in the country after a three-day official visit to Vienna at the head of a trade and industrial delegation, met with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber President Christoph Leitl.
During the meeting, Khamoushi pointed to the favorable and deep-rooted ties of the two countries and industrial and commercial bilateral agreements signed by the two sides, and outlined the new Iranian economic situation which gives its private sector a greater role in accordance with the amendment made to Article 44 of the constitution.
He said Iran welcomes Austrian companies' investment particularly in activities in the oil and gas, petrochemcal, auto manufacturing and railways sectors.
Leitl, for his part, expressed his country's desire to further expand ties with Iran and accepted an invitation by Khamoushi to pay a visit to Tehran accompanied by a senior economic delegation in the near future.
Khamoushi and Leitl further agreed to start cooperation in various business training programs.
Khamoushi and his accompanying delegation also held separate meetings with managers of three Austrian banks.
During the meetings, the Austrian side pointed to Iran's dynamic role in the region, in particular in Iraq, Afghanistan and Central Asia, and said the Austrian government stands ready to support investment by its small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Iran.