Iran, Sudan sign five cooperation agreements
June 21, 2006 (TEHRAN) – Islamic Republic of Iran and Sudan have signed five memoranda of understanding for bolstering bilateral cooperation, the state-run IRNA reported.
The MoUs were inked by Iranian Minister of Agriculture Jihad and head of the 9th Iran-Sudan Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Mohammad-Reza Eskandari and visiting Sudanese Minister of International Cooperation al-Tigani Saleh Fedail.
As stated in the MoUs, the sides will bolster bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture, education and scientific research, adopt measures to avoid double taxation and other matters agreed in the final memorandum of understanding of the 9th commission.
The two sides, during the three-day session of their joint commission, held talks by their expert committees on, among others, commercial cooperation and investment, cultural, scientific, research and educational cooperation and agricultural, industrial and technical cooperation.
The Iranian side expressed readiness to establish a trade center under its private sector and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines in Khartoum and implement engineering projects in the fields of infrastructure and technical affairs which the other side welcomed.
The two sides expressed pleasure over the signing of documents in Persian and Arabic languages and agreement to avoid double taxation, the English version of which were signed in Khartoum in 2004.
Iran also expressed willingness to buy certain agricultural tools from Sudan within the framework of their bilateral agricultural cooperation, and expressed readiness to export modern irrigation equipment to Khartoum.
Investment in mines and mineral exploration, extraction and exploitation of oil and gas in both states, customs, aviation and shipping cooperation, establishment of a joint committee of Iran’s Red Crescent Societiy and cooperation in health and environmental issues were the subject of agreements entered into by the two sides.
Addressing the closing session of the commission, Eskandari said creation of the commission was a turning point in bilateral cooperation.
He expressed hope the commission would facilitate further promotion of Tehran-Khartoum relations at various levels.
“Agreements reached between the two sides will provide an appropriate opportunity for private sectors of Iran and Sudan to boost economic cooperation,” he said.
Al-Tigani, for his part, said his country would strive to implement the agreements entered into by the two sides, and hoped projects of the commission would have a positive impact on their two nations.
The Sudanese Minister pointed to agreements reached between Tehran and Khartoum aimed at further expanding relations and said his country gives importance to enhanced ties with Iran.
Sudan is interested in harnessing all opportunities for implementing various projects through cooperation with Iran, he said, and called for bolstering of bilateral cooperation within the framework of the two countries’ joint commission.
The Sudanese people and government have always strongly supported Iran’s right to access peaceful nuclear energy and regard Iran’s success in this field as a victory for all Muslims, Al-Tigani said.
(ST)