Iran, Sri Lanka to Expand Economic Cooperation

Anis said on Saturday in a meeting with economic activists in Iran’s central province of Yazd, that promoting economic relations between his country and Yazd province will benefit both countries.

He added that efforts are underway to pave the ground for investment, concluding necessary deal and communications with industrial and production activists.

Referring to Sri Lankan capacities, he mentioned tower building, construction materials, road and bridge building as suitable areas for investment by the Iranian companies.

Tehran-Colombo direct flight will soon become operational which can help promote tourism and economic activities, he said.

Yazd economic activists pointed to the province's capacities, including export of tiles, stones, fabric and powder milk and welcomed exchanges with the country.

Early in August, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited the South Asian country and met with his Sri Lankan counterpart Tilak Janak Marapana in Colombo where the two sides discussed bilateral relations, specially in economic fields.

During the meeting in the Sri Lankan capital, the Iranian and Sri Lankan foreign ministers explored avenues for bolstering and reinvigorating mutual cooperation in trade and economic areas, including in energy, petrochemicals, construction, banking and agriculture.

The two sides also examined closer cooperation on global issues.

Zarif and Tilak Janak Marapana also held a second round of meeting on Wednesday, and studied the most important regional and international issues and other topics of interest.

The second round of talks between the two foreign ministers took place while discussing the most important regional and international issues and other topics of interest.

Iranian foreign minister also held met with Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday and exchanged views on different regional and international topics.

In a relevant development in late April 2018, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in a meeting with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo underlined the need for enhancing mutual cooperation between the two countries.

"Considering the age-old trade relations between Iran and Sri Lanka, the chambers of commerce of the two countries can play a bold role with their familiarity with the areas of cooperation,” Larijani said during the meeting in the Sri Lankan capital.

The Iranian parliament speaker underlined that one of the objectives of his visit to Sri Lanka is to expand parliamentary and economic relations between Tehran and Colombo.

The Sri Lankan prime minister, for his part, reassured that Sri Lanka is after normalizing relations with Iran.

"The Sri Lankan president will soon travel to Iran and his visit will create new grounds for cooperation," he said.

The Sri Lankan prime minister expressed the hope that the level of economic ties between the two countries is growing in consistent with the growth in political relations.

In relevant remarks in January 2015, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Tehran is determined to strengthen ties with friendly nations, including Sri Lanka.

In a message to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, President Rouhani extended his congratulations to Sirisena on his election as the country's president, and expressed the hope that the bilateral relations between Tehran and Colombo would witness further enhancement in his tenure.

"I sincerely congratulate Your Excellency's election as the president of the friend country, Sri Lanka," wrote President Rouhani in his message.