Slovenia searches for business opportunities with Iran

Slovenia is seeking opportunities to do business with Iran when a 30-strong delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Janko Veber traveling in the Middle East energy giant on Saturday. Veber is believed to be the first Slovenian high-ranking official to visit Iran in the past 20 years. The Slovenian high-ranking delegation features representatives of 20 companies and organizations, involving energy, transportation, telecommunications, and manufacturing industry. During his four-day visit, Veber is to meet Ali Larijani, speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, and other senior government officials. The purpose of the visit is to promote bilateral relations in areas of shared interest, especially in trade and investment, said a press release from the Slovenian parliament. Slovenia-Iran trade has been on the decrease for years, slumping from 96 million euros in 2011 to 46 million euros (63 million U.S. dollars) in 2012, and 25.5 million euros last year, according to an official report. (1 euro = 1.38 U.S. dollars)