Iran, Armenia sign MoU on workforce exchange, economy
Tehran and Yerevan inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to cooperate in the fields of labor exchange, technical and professional training.
Signed by Iranian Labour and Social Welfare Minister Solat Mortazavi and his Armenian counterpart Narek Mkrtchyan, the MoU also covers economic cooperation between the two countries in the fields of petrochemicals, road and construction materials, and medicine, IRNA reported.
Speaking in a meeting with Armenian delegation in Tehran, Mortazavi said, “Iran is fully prepared to send workforce to Armenia while establishing techno-vocational training centers in the country, as well as transferring experiences to empower the disabled and war victims.”
Referring to the rise in the economic exchanges between the two countries, the Iranian minister said, “Economic exchanges between Iran and Armenia have improved slightly, reaching $700 million, but we should aim for $3 billion in bilateral trade with a proper planning.”
Mkrtchyan, for his part, admired Iran’s interest in boosting trade ties with Armenia, saying, “In the few days that our delegation has been in Iran, we established ways of cooperation more than expected, and this is a source of satisfaction.”
“By signing this memorandum, we can move things forward and implement the MoU as soon as possible. I am sure that we will make arrangements so that the Iranian workforce will consider Armenia as their home when they enter the country,” the Armenian minister noted.
An Armenian delegation led by Mkrtchyan visited Iran during October 29-31, with the aim of giving new momentum to the cooperation between the two countries in the field of labor and social protection, getting to know the best respective practices and innovative initiatives of Iran, as well as developing a constructive dialogue in this regard.