Iran, Switzerland Opt for Boosting Banking Ties

FARS- Vice-Chairman of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines Pedram Soltani and his Swiss counterpart Marco Passalia in a meeting in Tehran called for broadening of economic relations, specially in the field of banking.

During the meeting in the Iranian capital on Saturday, Soltani and Passalia underlined the need for the expansion of banking relations by utilizing Eurasia's capacity in the field.

The Iranian official pointed to the areas of cooperation as banking, tourism, technology and pharmaceuticals, and said, "A good future is foreseeable for the economic relations between the two countries as a result of setting up Joint Iran-Switzerland Council.

Soltani, meantime, urged the two countries' private sectors to pave the way for banking relations as one of the main prerequisites for economic ties.

Describing Iran-Switzerland cooperation as unsatisfactory for the time being, he stressed that the two countries could boost cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) through its collaboration with Iran.

"Iranian and Swiss companies can launch joint activities in different fields," Soltani added.

Passalia, for his part, reiterated that his country is currently focusing on a few countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan and Iran as main targets for export, trade and economic cooperation.

He pointed to the Iranian delegation to Switzerland as comprising energy, steel, and banking activists, and said, "Big agreements will be signed between the two countries in the foreseeable future."

Passalia, meantime, welcomed the Iranian Chamber's vice-chairman's suggestions on trade with Eurasia, and expressed his country's interest in trade with the region.

Vice president of Switzerland’s Canton Ticino Chamber of Commerce also stressed the importance of free trade for his country, and said that Switzerland has signed 39 agreements in the field with various regions all over the world.

In relevant remarks in early April, Swiss Ambassador to Tehran Giulio Haas voiced his country's willingness to broaden economic and trade relations with Iran.

"Switzerland is ready to expand all-out cooperation, specially in the field of economic and trade fields, with Iran," Haas said.

The Swiss envoy said that the volume of investment by Swiss businessmen in Iran has doubled in recent years.

"During the past four years, the number of Swiss tourists, who have visited Iran, has increased from 5,000 to 15,000," he said, adding, "The two countries enjoy cordial relations in the fields of tourism industry."

"Switzerland is ready to expand all-out cooperation, specially in the field of economic and trade fields, with Iran," Haas said.

The Swiss envoy said that the volume of investment by Swiss businessmen in Iran has doubled in recent years.

"During the past four years, the number of Swiss tourists, who have visited Iran, has increased from 5,000 to 15,000," he said, adding, "The two countries enjoy cordial relations in the fields of tourism industry."