Former German Diplomat Points To ˈGreat Potentialˈ For Iran Co-op

Berlin, Feb 9, IRNA -- A former German diplomat in an interview with IRNA in Berlin highlighted the ˈgreat potentialˈ for German-Iranian political and economic cooperation. Volker Schlegel who was an economic attache at the German embassy in Tehran in the 1980s, reiterated both sides are actually ˈideal partnersˈ for promoting political and business ties. He expressed hope that Germany and Iran would launch ˈconcrete stepsˈ once an agreement on a permanent nuclear deal is reached by July 20. Germany can offer technology, know-how and products to Iran and help create much needed jobs in Iran, according to Schlegel. Furthermore, Germanyˈs vocational training system and a societal dialogue could further boost bilateral relations, he added. Schlegel pointed out that the German government is now actively ˈencouragingˈ German companies to resume contacts with their Iranian business partners. Referring to the recent Germany trip by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Schlegel said his speeches in Munich and Berlin had only ˈincreased trustˈ in Iran as an important country. German companies have repeatedly expressed great interest in the Iranian market in the wake of the easing of some of the western sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program. Germanyˈs business community has voiced serious concern that it was missing out on lucrative business deals with Iran. The head of the Tehran-based German-Iranian Chamber of Industry and Commerce Daniel Bernbeck warned recently that Germany was to lose the Iranian market as other western investors were flocking to Tehran in the aftermath of the landmark November 24 Geneva nuclear accord. While German trade competitors from countries like Italy, France and even the US are trying to enter Iranˈs profitable energy and automobile sector, German companies stand to lose out on the multi-billion euro business contracts, according to Bernbeck. For many years, Iran was the most important export market for Germany in the Middle East and North Africa, prior to the imposition of western sanctions. Many Asian and European companies have already replaced German firms in the Iranian market in recent years. More than 40,000 German jobs are indirectly affected by German-Iranian trade exchange, according to business insiders. German exports to Iran are especially vital to mainly small and mid-size German companies that are the backbone of the countryˈs export strength./end