Remarks at the Ambassador’s Reception
Your excellency Ian thank you very much and to everyone that's here this evening. Also particularly like to welcome Mr Asgaroladi who is I'm told in many respects the father of trade between Iran and Australia. Terrific to have had the chance to meet you this evening.
It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be here as Australia's Trade Minister. The first visit by an Australian Trade Minister since 2002 and you're right Ian, it has been too long since we've had visits. But we are now at the dawn of a new age in terms of the potential relationship on the economic front between Australia and Iran. Although it has been many years since we've had a visit from a trade minister, the fact is that Australia has had an ongoing presence, a diplomatic footprint here in Iran since 1968. Likewise, Iran of course has had its ongoing presence in Australia since 1971. And in coming along tonight I've been able to, privileged to lead a delegation of some twenty Australian businesses represented by senior members of their executive teams covering a broad spectrum from small businesses, small market capped businesses, as well as large market capitalised businesses, embracing a range of different sectors from water management, through to agribusiness, resources and extractives as well as opportunities in relation to businesses operating in the health sphere just to name but a select few.
They all come with me in many respects seized of the opportunity that we have now to broaden and deepen the relationship between Australia and Iran. And as we continue to see sanctions eased and as we continue to build upon the good work of visits like this I am very confident that we will see our two-way trade relationship going from strength to strength.
Today I was so pleased that we were able to officially sign three Memoranda of Understanding. One in relation to the bilateral trade and investment framework. Another an agreement between our export financing agencies and the third, an agreement in relation to water management, indeed a common challenge for both countries given the scarcity of water that we each confront.
Can I just say tonight for those Iranians that are with us, who represent government officials and the private sector in Iran, you'll find assembled here a collection of Australians that are keen to do business. They appreciate that the best trade outcome of all is one that delivers a win-win outcome. And that's what motivates me in this role, to be able to engage in a much more meaningful way with Iran, still mindful that there are challenges in areas such as banking and finance, but with a renewed commitment to find a way around those challenges so that together we can realise the aspiration that we share about what we are able to achieve as two trading nations who recognise as well the fact that for forty plus years Iran and Australia have been great trading partners and although there's been a lull of late I am very confident that with good will, high expectation and the support of government on both sides we will be able to resume a strengthened trade and investment relationship that truly reflects the diversified markets and the great complementarities that exist between Australia and Iran.
Ian can I thank you for opening your home to us tonight, I look forward to what should be a terrific meal and I hope you all enjoy this evening and most importantly find it commercially productive. Thank you.