Iranian expansion of Tehran-Beirut trade ties

The issue was raised by both ministers at the inauguration ceremony of the 7th Iran-Lebanon Economic Cooperation Commission in Beirut. Ali Nikzad, as head of Iranian delegation, pointed to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon and underlined high capacity of both countries for developing cooperation. Referring to Iranian companies' technical and engineering capabilities in constructing electric power plants and dams in Lebanon, Nikzad expressed the hope that this meeting could lead to removing obstacles on the way of execution of former agreements and increasing trade exchange level. The Lebanese minister, for his part, expressed the hope that trade relations could be promoted like political relations to its highest level. Referring to Iran geographical position, Nahas called it an exporting gate for Lebanese goods to Central Asian countries. The outcome of the joint commission will be prepared to be submitted to the first high committee meeting to be held on Thursday in Beirut under the chairmanship of Iran's First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Iran and Lebanon enjoy cordial relations and have further expanded these ties in recent years. The two sides have exchanged several delegations of high-ranking officials in the last two years. Iranian and Lebanese officials have recently doubled efforts to further expand the bilateral relations and mutual cooperation between the two nations. The two countries signed a cluster of economic agreements during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's landmark visit to Beirut in October 2010.