Cuba and Iran Interested in Strengthening Economic Bonds

HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 23 (acn) The will to expand and strengthen economic relations between Cuba and the Islamic Republic of Iran was expressed on Monday in the first bi-national business forum held in this capital.

The meeting was presided over by Rodrigo Malmierca, Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment (MINCEX) and Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister (FM), who is on an official visit to the island as part of a tour of Latin America.
At the capital's National Hotel Malmierca thanked the FM for his presence in the first seminar conducted by both parties, aimed at identifying opportunities for trade and investment.
The MINCEX minister recalled that for several years the economic and financial activity between Cuba and Iran was affected by the unjust sanctions imposed on Iran by a group of capitalist countries led by the United States to hinder the development of that fraternal nation.
Following the lifting of these sanctions we are in a better scenario, which makes it possible to reactivate links in line with existing potentials and for mutual benefit, he stated.
In this regard, he said that a significant step will be the holding in January of a new intergovernmental meeting between the two countries.
Zarif expressed the honor and satisfaction visiting Cuba represents for him, "a friendly and revolutionary country" with which there are "old and well-established relations," he asserted.
The Iranian FM stressed that the presence in this forum of government officials and executives from Iranian state and private companies indicates the importance attached by his country' to ties with the Caribbean island.
Iran has always been a good partner and friend to Cuba and will continue to be so, said Zarif, who expressed his appreciation for the continued support of Cuba against the sanctions imposed on the Persian nation.
I hope we can explore new areas of cooperation for mutual benefit, he said at the meeting.
The visiting delegation includes representatives of the sectors of health, pharmaceuticals, food processing, construction, oil and petrochemicals, renewable energy, maritime, transportation, and communications.