South African Ambassador to Tehran William Max Whitehead underlining development of economic, trade and cultural relations between Iran and South Africa and hoped bilateral cooperation would expand in different fields of maritime industries, agriculture and tourism.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Deputy Governor General of Khuzestan Province and Governor of Abadan city Azizollah Shahbazi here on Monday.
Whitehead said that Iran enjoying excellent position in the region and full security has attracted the attention of African countries, especially South Africa.
He said that the two countries have plenty of grounds for cooperation in the fields of mining, tourism, agriculture, science and research and added that through appropriate planning it is possible to expand bilateral cooperation.
The ambassador expressed his country’s interest in developng trade ties with Khuzestan province in the fields of foodstuff and agricultural industries, animal husbandry, protection of water resources, agricultural research, new energies, transfer of technology, construction, and urban waste waters management.
Whitehead said that South Africa has 15 free trade zones and isready to transfer its experiences in this concern to Iran including offering economic incentives for absorbing investment in free trade zones.
Shahbazi, for his part, enumerated the capabilities of Abadan city in the fields of agriculture, date production, aquaculture and fish culture, maritime industries and shipbuilding as well as oil industries.
He added that Arvand Free Trade Zone needs foreign investment and expressed hope that such meetings would lead to expansion of bilateral cooperation.
Whitehead, who is in Khuzestan province since Sunday, also met with Governor General of the province Abdolhassan Moqtadaei and discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries with him.