Djivan Gasparyan performs at 32nd Fajr Intl. Music Festival
Armenian musician and composer Djivan Gasparyan performed at Milad Tower Conference Center on Friday during the first day of Fajr Festival. Gasparyan is known as the ‘Master of the duduk’, a double reed woodwind instrument related to the orchestral oboe.

The Iranian music group performed in the 32nd Fajr International Music Festival.

The Rastak Iranian music group performed in the 32nd Fajr International Music Festival.

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The memorandum of understanding was signed by Iran’s Minister of Agriculture Mahmoud Hojjati and Netherlands Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp in Amsterdam on Friday. Hojjati heading a delegation of his deputies and representatives of Iran’s private sector has visited the Netherlands at the official invitation of the host country.

During his meeting with the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Hojjati maintained that Iran is on the same level with the top countries in the world in production of certain horticultural crops such as pistachios, dates, pomegranates and apricots. He added that the Islamic Republic is making plans to increase the export of such products to new markets.

The Iranian minister then noted the various capacities of the Netherlands in agriculture and livestock, saying “the two countries can complement one another on agricultural cooperation and the MoU that will be signed today can better define the framework for this kind of cooperation between the two sides.”

Henk Kamp, for his part, highlighted the nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 as a good opportunity for various countries across the world to further expand their relations with Iran.

“The exchange of delegations between the two counties in the past two years shows the expedition of developing relations, and the Netherlands is ready to boost its cooperation with Iran in all areas, including economy and agriculture,” he added.

Kamp further noted the relative advantage of the Netherlands in agricultural production, which is about five times more than the average in Europe, and called for exchange of experiences between the two countries in the field of agriculture and livestock.

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The company’s Managing Director Pirouz Mousavi said on the sidelines of Offshore Energy Exhibition and Conference (OEEC) in the Netherlands that Iran’s crude and gas condensate exports has reached pre-sanction levels, according to Mehr News Agency.

He noted that “currently, all facilities, equipment and infrastructures for storage, loading and exports on oil products have been renovated and upgraded”.

The official enumerated several areas for Iran-Netherlands cooperation including modernization of harbors, loading arms, storage facilities and Single Buoy Moorings (SBMs).

A number of SBMs used in Iranian oil terminals are Netherlands– made

He added that a number of SBMs used in Iranian oil terminals are Netherlands– made and partnership can be established for supplying required equipment.

“Presently, given the refurbishment of facilities, a total of 10 oil tankers can dock at Kharg terminal which caters for 93 percent of Iran’s crude exports,” highlighted Mousavi. He considered this achievement as a great success for the country’s economy.

IOTC official added that his company will continue to update storage and export facilities of crude and gas condensate to meet international standards.

Together with domestic companies which meet most of the demand, Dutch firms can also participate in the market, he added.

“Following the removal of sanctions, the highest loading per day at Iran’s Kharg oil terminal has been more than seven million oil barrels which were received by Iranian and foreign tankers,” he concluded.

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The deal was sealed by Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhundi and Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment of the Netherlands Schultz van Haegen.

During the MoU-signing ceremony, Schultz van Haegen of the Dutch ministry said the two countries ink the deal with the aim of strategic development of maritime and port activities noting “the agreement holds great significance given the role played by both parties in their areas of jurisdiction.”

Iran’s Akhundi, for his part, pointing to the joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Amsterdam asserting “the Netherlands remains as a major European country in the field of maritime transport as a great portion Europe’s maritime transport is carried out through Dutch ports.”

“The main axis of talks between the two states in the field of transport marks use of existing facilities to enable maritime logistics between Iran and the Netherlands,” he underlined adding “negotiations were held over development of Phase 3 of Shahid Rajaee Port as well as Chabahar port for the Dutch side to take part in Iran’s port tenders in case of willingness.”

The Iranian minister further pointed to the held talks over road transport adding “presently no MoU exists between the two sides though Iran has made a proposal for study to the Dutch minister and the results would hopefully lead to an agreement in future.”

“Currently, a total of 800 Iranian trucks commute to the European country and the draft of an MoU has been inked,” he maintained.

Minister: Iran-Netherlands flights in recent days stating that the first KLM flights was performed and direct flights will hopefully be boosted in near future.

Abbas Akhundi also touched upon resumption of Iran-Netherlands flights in recent days stating that the first KLM flights was performed on Sunday and the number of direct flights will hopefully be boosted in near future.”

“Iran requires comprehensive cooperation with the Netherlands in order to restore new corridors between Europe and the East,” commented the official.

It is worth noting that the recent MoU between Iran and the Netherla.nds was inked in Tehran and covers several areas including bolstering of port and maritime ties, investment, formation of a joint committee, exchange of experts, training of managers as various levels, practical measures as well as development of logistic procedures.

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Alireza Jahangiri, who was speaking at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, added that grounds are prepared for closer cooperation between the Islamic Republic and the Netherlands in many fields, Tasnim News Agency reported.

Therefore, he noted, the two countries have devised a roadmap to promote relations.

“Given the advantages of doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran, European countries have taken huge steps to boost economic cooperation with Iran over the past two years, especially following the nuclear deal,” he noted.

Earlier last month, Jahangiri and president of the Netherlands’ central bank (De Nederlandsche Bank), Klaas Knot, in a meeting in The Hague discussed ways to boost banking interactions between the two nations.

The talks come against the backdrop of a new wave of interest in ties with Iran after Tehran and the P5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France plus Germany) agreed on the text of a comprehensive 159-page deal on Tehran’s nuclear program on July 14, 2015 which went into force on January 16.

The comprehensive nuclear deal, known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), terminated all nuclear-related sanctions on Iran.

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