Iran, Germany to consolidate energy cooperation

Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian voiced satisfaction in the outcomes of his visit to the IFAT Trade Fair 2014 in Munich where Iranian and German companies agreed to promote their cooperation in energy-generation fields. “The Germans are ready to resume and expand economic ties with Iran, including operations in renewable energies, and we also welcome cooperation with that country, which is renowned in the industrial arena,” said Chitchian in a Friday interview in Berlin. The Iranian energy minister said a number of contracts and memoranda of understanding have been signed in the course of his meetings with representatives of German energy firms. The political situation in Iran is moving in such a way as to facilitate economic and trade ties with foreign countries, including Germany, Chitchian stated. The Iranian minister added that Renewable Energy Organization of Iran has started extensive research on the country’s wind power potentials in collaboration with Germany’s Lahmeyer International and expressed optimism that German firms would continue to expand their cooperation with Iran regardless of the existing obstacles. Chitchian attended the opening ceremony of Germany's IFAT Trade Fair 2014 in Munich on Monday morning. Germany is an important trade partner of Iran. Berlin has long been ignoring the US-led sanctions against Iran. Iran and Germany have tried to expand their bilateral relations in recent years through reciprocal visits by the two countries’ officials.