Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 28
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on banking cooperation, the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) said in a message.
The deal was signed by Valiollah Seif, the CBI head and Darmin Nasution, the visiting Indonesian coordinating minister for economic affairs in Tehran Feb. 27.
Seif said that before proceeding with any step to boost trade, it is necessary to create the appropriate atmosphere for cooperation of the commercial banks of the two countries.
Opening a joint bank account between the two countries to settle payments will accelerate mutual trade and economic ties, he added.
He further said that opening a joint account will also allow the two countries to carry out payments in their local currencies or any agreed currency.
The two sides can also use their potential to establish branch of their banks in each others countries, Seif said, adding that considering the tourism capacities of Iran and Indonesia the two parties also can link their banking card systems, so the citizens from the two countries can use their banking cards in Iran and Indonesia.
Nasution, for his part, emphasized that Indonesia welcomed the expansion of banking relations with Iran.
He added that both countries needed to take measures to promote the trust of traders from both sides.
Heading a high-ranking economic delegation Nasution arrived in Tehran Feb. 26 to follow up the negotiations on cooperation in the fields of oil, gas, petrochemical and electricity with Iranian officials.
The Indonesian delegation also held talks with Iranian officials in the fields of trade, banking, agriculture and industrial engineering as well.