MNA – Iran’s deputy FM Abbas Araghchi said the removal of anti-Iranian sanctions has provided ample opportunities for increasing economic cooperation with IORA member states.

The Iranian diplomat made the remark at the Ministerial meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) that was held in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Monday, while stressing closer ties with IORA member states particularly in the Persian Gulf region which is the connecting point to the Indian Ocean.

Highlighting the influence of the IORA on global trends, Araghchi called on member states to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the organization's six priorities, particularly in trade, investment, banking and financial cooperation.

Araghchi then stressed the high economic capacity of Iran’s port city of Chabahar, calling the port the connecting point of east to west and north to south, and very cost-efficient. He further called upon IROA member states to pay more attention to the ample capacities of this Iranian port city.

The Iranian diplomat further referred to the first board meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association held in the port city of Chabahar in May where representatives from all 21 member states gathered together to discuss ways to boost multilateral ties within a free trade zone framework; “reaching an agreement on creating a mechanism for cooperation was the cause of this important meeting’s success within the framework of IORA's objectives for establishing intergroup interactions,” he added.

The first ever IROA Summit since its establishment in 1997 will be held in Jakarta on Tuesday where Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will attend on behalf of President Rouhani.