August 6, The Iran Project – Iran and Ukraine have highlighted the need to develop the two countries’ economic and agricultural cooperation.

In a meeting with Ukraine’s First Vice-Prime Minister, Stepan Kubiv, on Sunday, Iranian Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati emphasized on Tehran-Kiev’s high capacities to expand cooperation in various fields of oil and energy, transit of goods, advanced industries and agricultural production.

Hojjati also stressed Iran-Ukraine’s rail, road and air infrastructures and strategic cooperation, saying these could provide Iran with access to the Black Sea and Western Europe, as well as facilitate Ukraine's access to the Indian Ocean.

Stepan Kubiv, who is also Ukraine's Minister of Economic Development and Trade, pointed to the need for holding Iran-Ukraine’s Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation and drawing a roadmap for developing relations between the two countries, adding to this end, officials will soon make decisions to facilitate bilateral banking relations.

Given the research infrastructures in Iran, the exchange of experiences in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, and fish farming is of particular importance for Ukraine, Kubiv noted.

Saying that Iran-Ukraine's future of trade cooperation will be bright, he announced that the two countries’ Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation will be held in the near future.

Kubiv, who took part in the inauguration ceremony of President Rouhani, also held talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on Saturday and the two sides called for the expansion of mutual cooperation in all fields.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv on Saturday, Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri highlighted the importance of closer economic relations between Tehran and Kiev, saying the two countries need “serious work and accurate planning” to increase mutual trade.