Swedish PM to visit Iran in February

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven is due to visit Iran's capital Tehran in February 2017 for talks on trade cooperation, Tehran Times daily reported on Wednesday.

Sweden is willingness to expand mutual cooperation with Iran and it puts great importance on ties between the two countries, Sweden ambassador to Tehran, Helena Sangeland, was quoted as saying.

During his visit, Lofven will lead a trade delegation to discuss the boost of cooperation with the relevant Iranian partners, Sangeland said in a meeting in Tehran with the chairman of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Gholam-Hossein Shafeie.

The Swedish envoy said that the two countries have exchanged several delegations and held official meetings over the past year since the lift of western sanctions against Iran, the report said.

The resumption of the activities of Sweden's economic center in Tehran has created an opportunity for small and medium sized enterprises to make investment and launch joint ventures in Iran," she was quoted as saying.

Earlier this month, Iranian Presidential Chief of Staff Mohammad Nahavandian met members of the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR) to exchange views on promoting economic ties.

In the meeting, Nahavandian described Iran's economy as an opportunity for the members of the Swedish council, ISNA reported.

The Iranian official urged Swedish companies to get more engaged with Iran's private sector, stressing that the country's private sector is increasingly involved in the economy.  

source: Xinhua