Joint Press Conference with Minister for Energy Hamid Chitchian

Your excellency, thank you so much for your warm welcome and for the opportunity to meet with you here at the Ministry of Energy this afternoon.

This represents the first visit by an Australian trade minister since 2002 to Iran.

We can collaborate on technology for microphone stands.

In visiting Iran, I'm certainly keen as Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister to capitalise on the opportunity now and with the easing of sanctions and as Iran reintegrates with the world.

The pathway forward certainly looks promising and in particular there is a tremendous potential to gain, for both our countries, through the sharing of knowledge exactly as we have done.

And when it comes to water scarcity there is, of course, so much that we have in common.

Australia is referred to as the "sunburnt country" and we have that name because of the challenges we have with water.

Our water scarcity has driven us to be innovative. Especially with respect to our ability to drive yields from agribusiness, crops as well as, of course, the application of water management practices to the extractive sector.

We can apply this knowledge now for the benefit of both of our countries. And that is why I am particularly pleased to join with you this afternoon to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Water Partnership and its Iranian counterpart. This MOU, this memorandum, will help to focus on the areas that Iran and Australia can drive forward for the benefit of both of us.

The Memorandum of Understanding will operate to drive collaboration between officials in the private sector in Australia and Iran. It puts in place common principles and aspirations, as well as provides opportunity to share knowledge and information in relation to water management. In many respects it represents just the first step.