Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran's banking problems with the European countries have been fully resolved, Iran’s deputy industry minister, Mehdi Karbasian said, Mehr news agency reported June 20.
Following the attempts made by the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), the issue has been completely settled, Karbasian said, expressing hope that European investors will invest in Iranian mines.
He further said that the Iranian administration has authorized credits from South Korea, Germany, Italy and France which will be used for financing mine projects in Iran.
Serious talks with the financers are underway at the moment, he said.
Karbasian also said that the problems on receiving financing from Chinese investors for the steel sector also are resolved and the payments will start soon.
The issue was delayed due to challenges over prices and types of equipment, he said, adding that following several rounds of talks with the Chinese side, within the past 1.5 years the prices decreased.
Also it was agreed that the major equipment is to be purchased from European countries instead of China, he said.
Karbasian earlier said that three European states as well as China are to finance Iran's mining projects worth $9.1 billion.
China has prepared a $4.5-billion finance package, while Italy and France wants to invest about 4.5 billion euro in Iran's mines.