Media release
Thursday 12 September 2002 - MVT109/2002
Australia - Iran Trade Relations Move to a New Plane
Australian-Iranian trade relations were set to move to a new plane,
Trade Minister Mark Vaile said today.
Mr Vaile led a delegation of 54 representatives from 34 Australian
companies to Iran during his three-day visit.
"The size of the delegation clearly demonstrated the level of enthusiasm
amongst Australian businesses for expanding Australia's commercial
relations with Iran," Mr Vaile said.
During his visit, Mr Vaile was received by Iranian President Khatami,
President of the Expediency Council, Ayatollah Rafsanjani, Ministers
for Agriculture, Industries and Mines, and the Governor of the Central
Bank of Iran. Mr Vaile also co-chaired, with the Iranian Minister
of Agriculture, Mr Hojjati, the ninth Australia-Iran Joint Ministerial
Commission (JMC).
"Australia and Iran have agreed to give priority to negotiations
on an Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement, with the first
round of talks to take place in the first half of 2003.
"We are entering into negotiation on this Agreement to ensure that
Australian companies can take full advantage of the growing investment
opportunities in Iran and new reforms to the Iranian investment regime.
"The
JMC communiqué highlights the maturing of Australia-Iran commercial
relations, by emphasising a greater commitment to moving beyond traditional
trade patterns to new sectors such as investment, services, and technological
transfer."
Mr Vaile said key outcomes of the visit included confirmation that
the AWB Ltd will provide a further 530,000 tonnes of wheat to Iran
this year; the early conclusion of a technical services agreement
by BHP-Billiton and PetroIran and the likely re-opening of Australia's
livestock export trade to Iran following a break of two decades.
Mr Vaile also welcomed the announcement by CSIRO of its participation
in the establishment of a new $145 million Iranian Minerals Research
Centre; an agreement to cooperate in the fields of smart cards, GSM,
fibre optic cables, training and research and development centres
using technologies developed by the Australian companies Vecien and
Intercard Wireless Limited; and the expansion of cooperation between
Curtin University and its Iranian counterpart in the development of
petroleum-related academic programmes.
Mr Vaile said that these substantial outcomes highlight the opportunities
available to Australian companies in the Iranian market and clearly
demonstrate that our trading relationship with Iran has moved to a
new level.
Communique:
Ninth Joint Ministerial Commission of the Islamic Republic of Iran
and Australia Tehran 18-21 Shahrivar (9-12 September)
Media Contact: Mark Croxford +61 02 6277 7420
Local Date:
Friday, 05-Dec-2008 14:17:49 EST
