German firms find Iranian transportation sector appealing

German companies seek to invest in Iran especially in the field of transportation and infrastructure, says former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

“German companies are very much interested in investing in the fields of Iran’s transportation and infrastructure,” IRNA quoted Schroeder as telling reporters in Tehran on Monday after a meeting with Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi.

The former chancellor said the two sides discussed strategies for German firms’ operations in different sectors of Iranian transportation.

“The presence of German companies in Iran can open a new chapter in the development of economic relations of the two countries,” noted Schroeder who also held talks Monday with other senior officials in Tehran on improving trade ties and regional issues.

Schroeder heads a trade delegation for an unofficial three-day visit to Tehran. The 27-person team is mostly made up of representatives from German companies and the country’s economic sector.

He said although the volume of German investment could not immediately be known, the companies’ interest for business with Tehran heralded a good prospect for the future.

Schroeder is the honorary chairman of NUMOV, the Berlin-based German Near and Middle East Association, which works to boost economic exchange. He is also reportedly due to meet with Minister of Petroleum and President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday.

The latest visit marks an increase in foreign firms vying over Iran’s lucrative market after the termination of Western sanctions in accordance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Meanwhile, the Iranian minister said German investors seek to finance Iranian transportation projects.

Akhoundi referred to “good negotiations” with the German side in the areas of land, sea and air transport as well as infrastructure.

He also said they discussed the financing of Iranian projects by German banks and ways these banks could operate to fund them.

The Islamic Republic’s nearly 80 million population and educated workforce have long been seen as untapped, and its energy sector is considered ripe for deals.

With the fourth-largest oil reserves and the second in gas, Iran has the biggest combined energy deposits in the world.  

Emad Askarieh

Emad Askarieh has worked as a journalist since 2002. The main focus of his work is foreign policy and world diplomacy. He started his career at Iran Front Page Media Group, and is currently serving as the World Editor and the Vice-President for Executive Affairs at the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website.

Recent Posts

Official: Iran responds to IAEA resolution with increased nuclear enrichment capacity

Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), says the organization…

1 hour ago

Pictures: Demonstrators in Tehran support people of Gaza, Lebanon

Hundreds of people gathered in Tehran on Friday morning in front of the United Nations…

1 hour ago

Int’l lawyer: US plans to sanction countries cooperating with ICC on Netanyahu arrest

An international law expert and analyst has revealed the U.S. plans to impose punitive measures…

4 hours ago

Minister of science: 25% of Iranian university professors emigrated due to economic challenges

Iran’s Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, Hossein Simayee Saraf, addressed on Thursday academic migration…

4 hours ago

IRGC commander: ICC ruling against Netanyahu signifies political demise of Israel

The Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami, says that…

4 hours ago

IRGC: US Iran’s main enemy, Israel can’t survive without its support

The spokesperson and deputy head of public relations for the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC)…

7 hours ago