Venezuela seeks Iran’s industrial assistance

Senior Venezuelan officials in a meeting with head of Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) of Iran on Saturday asked for the construction of industrial units as well as opening of a credit line by Iranians in Venezuela, AVA Diplomatic reports.

At the meeting with TPO President Valiollah Afkhamirad in Tehran on Saturday, Venezuelan Ambassador to Tehran Amenhotep Zambrano and two other officials from the Latin American country’s ministry of industry requested assistance in setting up a plastic production line in Venezuela, the Tehran-based English newpaper, Iran Daily reported.

“Caracas has chosen Tehran as its sole partner in the plastic industry for the next 10 years,” Zambrano said.

“We appreciate it if Iran opens a credit line to support future plastic manufacturing and molding plants as well as auto parts production factories in Venezuela,” he added.

Afkhamirad expressed Iran’s readiness to build industrial units in Venezuela, and said that the Iran-Venezuela credit line will be beneficial for both countries.

“Venezuela can take advantage of the credit line to establish new production plants instead of purchasing consumer goods,” he added.

In recent years, Iran has expanded ties with Latin America, especially in the economic, trade and industrial sectors.

In June, Iranian Trade Minister Mohammadreza Nematzadeh and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a meeting in Caracas signed several agreements in nanotechnology and trade fields.

During the signing ceremony, President Maduro reiterated that relations between the two countries are based on mutual respect.

“Iran is among the seven major countries that have developed nanoscience and nanotechnology programs and we are now signing a comprehensive plan to develop joint programs,” the Venezuelan president said.

The two countries signed the agreements to strengthen economic and trade ties. Iran and Venezuela inked an agreement on investment in the production sector as well as in marketing of hygiene and cleansing products.