TEHRAN (Tasnim) – German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel will pay an official visit to Iran in coming weeks to finalize agreements on a number of joint development projects, Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi said.

Akhoundi, who is on a visit to Germany, described his meeting with Gabriel as “very constructive” and said the German economy minister will make a trip to Tehran on May 2 to sign the contracts.

The Iranian minister said that at the meeting, he and Gabriel held talks on various projects in such fields as rail transport, construction, aviation and development of Iran’s ports.

He further expressed the hope that during Gabriel’s visit to Iran, the contracts on the projects would be finalized.

Akhoundi also held separate meetings with senior officials of Siemens AG, Europe's biggest industrial group, and Volkswagen, a leading German car manufacturer.

Last month, Siegfried Russwurm, a member of the managing board of Siemens AG, said the new era has opened a new chapter for Iran and Germany’s business people to promote cooperation.

He hailed the coming into force of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a final nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

Russwurm also noted that Germany is in competition with other countries for a share of investment in Iran.

There has been growing enthusiasm for closer ties with Iran after implementation of the nuclear accord on January 16.

The deal has terminated all nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, reopened the doors of foreign investment to the country’s market, and prepared the ground for a much-anticipated economic boom.

By Tasnim News Agency