IRNA - Iran and Serbia during their second joint trade conference in Belgrade Friday announced their readiness to expand cooperation in various trade and commercial fields.


Visiting Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari and Serbian Deputy Premier and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljaji? were present in the conference.

Speaking at the gathering President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia Marko ?ade� said during their meetings with the Iranian minister of industry, mine and trade they reached the conclusion that very good news were on their way.

?ade� said the two sides have gone beyond the level of trade talks and the time has come for businessmen of both countries to take actions.

Representatives of 130 Iranian and Serbian commercial companies were present in the meeting.

Addressing the audience, Shariatmadari said the Islamic Republic of Iran attaches great importance to southeast Europe and regards Serbia as the anchor of peace and stability in the region as Iran plays a similar role in West Asia.

He called for establishment of a joint Iranian-Serbian firm to handle commercial transactions between the two countries.

Ljaji?, for his part, said he and ?ade� would travel to Tehran in October for talks with Iranian officials.

He also reminded Serbian businessmen that they were facing a market of 80 million people in Iran whose imports are worth 70 billion Euros.

On Thursday, Shariatmadari and Ljaji? signed the MoU of the 15th session of the joint economic cooperation commission.

The Iranian minister also inked another MoU with Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Z. Mihajlovi? on mutual aviation cooperation.

Shariatmadari and the Serbian minister of agriculture signed another MoU on fighting pests and plant protection and quarantine.