Iranian Energy Minister Welcomes Swiss Desire To Invest In Nation's Solar Energy - Reports

Iranian Energy Minister Welcomes Swiss Desire to Invest in Nation's Solar Energy - Reports

Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian has welcomed Swiss companies' interest in investing in Iranian solar energy, local media reported Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian has welcomed Swiss companies' interest in investing in Iranian solar energy, local media reported Tuesday.

According to Islamic Republic news Agency (IRNA), during his meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Iran Markus Leitner, Ardakanian said that he would like the two countries to cooperate on renewable energy, as this would enable Swiss companies to produce electricity using Iran's infrastructure and then sell it to neighboring countries.

"Cooperation between Iran and Switzerland in different fields, including water and electricity, started 15 years ago [with the conclusion of a cooperation agreement]," Ardakanian was quoted as saying by the IRNA.

While the document had been suspended since then, it did not stand in the way of potential Iranian-Swiss cooperation, Ardakanian added, clarifying that a special work group was going to establish the framework for bilateral interaction.

According to the IRNA, Leitner responded by voicing his hope for enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

In early July, Iran and Switzerland signed three documents on scientific, health and road transportation cooperation in the Swiss capital of Bern.

Relations between the two countries warmed after Switzerland lifted sanctions against Iran that were imposed in January 2016, when Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program by signing a deal with Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union.