Iran, Bosnia Herzegovina agree to boost economic ties

Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) here on Tuesday to boost economic cooperation, official IRNA news agency reported.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony in the capital Tehran by Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade of Iran, Ali Yazdani, and Bosnia and Herzegovina's Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Mirko Sarovic.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the visiting Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic, attended the ceremony.

The MoU aims at promoting trade and investment cooperation between small and medium-size companies of both countries in diverse areas.

Addressing a joint meeting of high-ranking officials on Tuesday, Rouhani called for a road map for sustaining and developing economic and trade ties between the two nations, Tasnim news agency reported.

"We should try to promote trade and economic ties and cooperation between private sectors of the two countries, and prepare the ground for the expansion of ties in the scientific, cultural and tourism spheres," Rouhani said.

Izetbegovic highlighted the European country's resolve for expansion of economic and financial relations with Iran.

Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina can be each other's gateway to the European and Asian markets, he added.

He also urged the removal of obstacles for private sectors' activities and facilitation of financial transactions between the two countries.

Heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation, Izetbegovic arrived in the Tehran on Tuesday for a four-day visit. Endit