Iranian Construction Minister Mohammad Reaa Said! Kia. who arrived in the capital yesterday to lead the ministerial level JEC meeting, said Iran is eager to expand cooperation with Bangladesh in Economic, technical and cultural sectors, rep UNB.

"I am here to have a clear understanding of how to develop trade and economic cooperation between the two brotherly countries." he told newsmen on arrival at the Zia International Airport in the morning.

The Iranian minister is heading a 20-member delegation at the Bangladesh-Iran Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting.

The delegation includes Deputy Construction Minister Rasoul Lahijanian and bu siness leaders from the Iranian Private sector.

' Replying to a question; about the proposed oil refinery in Chittagong; Saidi Kia said a private Iranian company is working on the project. Since it is a big project, it may take some time for implementation, he added.

He said that the ministerial-level JEC meeting will review the decisions adopted at the two previous JEC meetings and take follow-up actions to further expand the trade and economic cooperation.

The Iranian minister said one of the major developments of the JEC decisions was to establish the Dhaka-Tehran direct air-link introduced last November.

Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria. who received the minister at the airport, said Dhaka Is

interested in Iranian joint venture and investment in Bangladesh apart from the expansion of bilateral trade.

He said the official level JEC meeting, which began here Sunday several ar-

eas of cooperaUon. Including the oil refinery sector where Iran has got expertise.

Responding to a question. Kibria. who is leading a 12-member home team at the JEC meeting, said an MOU is expected to be signed in fisheries development sector.

The two-way trade between the two countries is around 50 million US dollars of which Bangladesh exports to Iran accounted for about 37 million dollars last year.

Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Mohammad Sadegh Fayyaz and Senior officials of the Finance Minister were present at the airport.