Iran-Eritrea-Ties
Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki, who is in Tehran at the head of a high ranking political and economic delegation, held talks with head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines Mohammad Nahavandian on issues of mutual interests, here on Tuesday.

At the meeting, Afewerki called for expansion of bilateral economic ties, adding that Eritrea is trying to encourage other countries to invest in it.

The Eritrean president said that relations between Iran and Eritrea date back to tens of years ago and they share common stance and viewpoints.

He said that his Tehran visit availed him and his delegation with a valuable chance to hold talks on economic and commercial ties.

"Although our country is very small in comparison with the Islamic Republic, Eritrea enjoys huge capabilities," he said.

Afwerki expressed hope that the two countries' economic cooperation would further broaden.

"We have established infrastructures for presence of foreign investors in our country," he said.

Afwerki also noted that currently Iranian-made commodities are exported to Eritrea via other countries, calling for import of Iranian goods directly from Iran.

He also invited Nahavandian and an Iranian economic delegation to visit Eritrea.

Nahavandian, for his part, called for bolstering of the two countries' ties, adding the meeting indicated the strong will of two countries for expansion of mutual cooperation.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has put cooperation with the African countries on its agenda," Nahavandian said.

Nahavandian added the Iranian investors are ready to make investment in the fields of ports and airports, road construction, communications, power plants and energy in Eritrea.

Referring to the exchange of economic information between the o countries, Nahavandian observed that the dispatch of economic delegations to other countries is a kind of exchange of information.

On Monday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held talks with Afewerki.

President Ahmadinejad said that Iran and Eritrea saw no limit for expansion of mutual cooperation.

Afwerki arrived in Tehran on Monday and was welcomed by Iran's Minister of Agriculture Jihad Mohammad-Reza Eskandari at Mehrabad Airport.

Eritrea is located in northeast of African continent near the Red Sea.

Eritrea has a population of 4.9 million people and Islam and Christianity are two major religions in the country.

Eritrea which was once a colony of Italy attained its independence in 1993 from Ethiopia.

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