Iran Eyes Role in Nicaragua Canal Project
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed the country’s readiness to be involved in a gigantic project on the construction of an inter-ocean canal across Nicaragua, a planned shipping route to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.
Speaking to reporters in Nicaragua’s capital of Managua on Tuesday night, Zarif said the Iranian state-run and private sector companies, whose representatives are in a big economic delegation in the tour of Latin America, can develop cooperation with Nicaragua, as in the construction of the multi-billion-dollar Nicaragua canal project.
Nicaraguan authorities have already approved a proposed 172-mile (277 km) route for the canal, a mega-project known as the world’s largest civil engineering enterprise.
Elsewhere in his comments, Zarif said Iran and Nicaragua can cooperate in many other fields as well, such as mine industry, agriculture, nanotechnology, pharmaceutical industry, banking services and export insurance.
Heading a 120-strong delegation of Iranian business people and economic officials, Zarif arrived in Nicaragua on Tuesday in the second leg of his six-nation tour of Latin America, after paying a visit to Cuba.
In Managua, Zarif began his meetings with the Central American nation’s parliamentarians.
He also addressed a conference on the opportunities for Iran-Nicaragua economic cooperation after visiting the parliament.
The top Iranian diplomat will visit Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, and Venezuela afterwards.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has announced that the tour of Latin America signifies Tehran’s plans to boost non-oil exports.
