Finland, Iran to cooperate in mining sector

A giant Finish company voiced willingness to invest in Iran's mineral development plans, particularly in iron ore and pelletizing projects. The Outotec Company company's Middle East representative Manfred Tapfer, in a meeting with President of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) Mehdi Karbasian, said the company holds the potential and technical capabilities to join Iran's plans for development of iron ore and pelletizing projects. "There is no limitation for us to joint cooperation and investment in this sector. We are able to establish firms with the capacity of producing 5 million tons in concentrate and pelletizing," Tapfer said. Finland can offer its plans in form of packages, he said, adding, "Given expansion of international ties with Iran over recent months and good banking cooperation it is expected that bilateral economic ties between the two sides would expand." Early in July, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined the need for the expansion of bilateral ties between Iran and Finland. Rouhani made the call in a message to Finnish President Sauli Vainamo Niinisto. The Iranian president called for strengthening regional cooperation between Iran and Finland.