Vietnam Voices Readiness to Invest in Iran's Mazandaran Province

Vietnam is ready to invest in Iran's northern Mazandaran Province, the provincial governor said on Sunday after meeting Vietnam's ambassador, adding that both sides had reviewed opportunities to expand cooperation in economic, scientific, agricultural and tourism sectors. ccording to IRNA, Mazandaran’s Governor-General Mehdi Younesi Rostami said Vietnamese investors had visited the northern province to examine its economic, commercial and investment potential and explore areas for joint cooperation. He said Mazandaran had strong capabilities in citrus exports, plastic products, white meat production, as well as scientific and academic fields, making it well positioned to expand cooperation with Vietnam.

Younesi said both sides agreed that exchanges of trade, tourism and academic delegations could be expanded. "Drawing on Vietnam's experience in improving rice production efficiency and expanding educational and research cooperation was also among the areas agreed upon," Younesi stated. "An assessment of existing capacities shows the way is open for joint investment and the expansion of economic ties between Mazandaran and Vietnam."

Vietnamese Ambassador Luong Ngoc Ninh described Mazandaran's landscape as similar to that of Vietnam and said opportunities existed not only to expand agricultural imports and exports but also to transfer modern agricultural technologies and improve production efficiency. "Vietnam is ready to host trade delegations from Mazandaran, organize online meetings between business communities in the two countries, and expand cooperation in education, tourism and fisheries."

During a joint meeting with provincial officials and private sector representatives, the ambassador called for the preparation of a list outlining Mazandaran's commercial capabilities and trade needs. "Mazandaran's caviar has been well received in the Vietnamese market, and there is potential to expand exports of this product." The ambassador said banking restrictions and problems arising from sanctions remained among the main obstacles to expanding bilateral trade, but added that both sides shared the determination to deepen economic cooperation and could facilitate trade by using new mechanisms. He said Vietnam was one of the world's leading agricultural producers, particularly of rice, and had invested heavily in recent years in modern technologies to increase productivity. The ambassador said Vietnam aimed to become one of the world's advanced economies by 2045 and was pursuing broad cooperation with other countries in trade, technology, investment and innovation to achieve that goal.

Vietnam has been one of Asia's fastest-growing economies in recent years, driven by strong exports and foreign investment. Vietnam's economy expanded by 7.1% in 2024, with gross domestic product reaching about US$476 billion. The envoy also called for specialized meetings between companies and business representatives from both countries. "Examining issues such as transportation, logistics, financial transactions and investment opportunities through joint meetings can help expand trade cooperation." The ambassador concluded by requesting that Mazandaran provide a list of its economic strengths, export capacities and import needs to facilitate targeted planning and closer links between businesses in the two countries. Vietnam and Iran have maintained modest trade ties in recent years, with agricultural products, petrochemicals and fisheries among the main areas of commerce. - Iran Daily