ENUGU—The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Morteza Rahimi Zarchi, has disclosed the willingness of the Asian country to establish general bilateral business relationship with the Enugu State Government, especially in the area of rendering medical services.

VISIT: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle); Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Morteza Rahimi Zarchi (right) and his Deputy, S. A Mortazavi, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

Ambassador Zarchi, who spoke at the Government House, Enugu, when he paid a courtesy call on the governor, in company with the management of FIT Consult Limited, stated that his delegation were in Enugu on a feasibility study of establishing an Iranian hospital, modelled after the one in Dubai, at the ongoing Heliu Residences project in Enugu as well as general bilateral cooperation with the state government.

The Iranian Ambassador said his country’s decision to seek bilateral cooperation with Enugu State Government was because of the state’s historical background, its natural resources, the geographical location, which he said links other neighbouring states, the international airport as well as the existing peace in the state.

He added that there are many Iranian companies into drugs manufacturing, especially herbal medicines, which are very useful in treating diabetes and other diseases, revealing that they are willing to bring the drugs to Nigeria or even import the raw materials into the country for final production.

While expressing delight at the interest shown by Iran in establishing a world class medical facility in the Heliu Estate under the International brand name, Iranian Hospital, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi disclosed that “there are many other areas of potential partnership and cooperation between your country and Enugu State, cutting across various sectors of the economy.

“As Your Excellency may know, the state is richly endowed with copious investment opportunities, especially in agriculture and agro-allied enterprises and in the extraction and processing of such minerals as coal, limestone, clay, oil, gas etc all of which are found in very abundant quantities in the state.

“The presence of an international (passenger and cargo) airport and the establishment of a Free Trade Zone in Enugu as well as the urbanisation initiatives of the government, provide a further boost to the economic potentials and profile of the state.

“We, therefore, seek the assistance of your embassy to enlighten business organisations in Iran as to these opportunities and to also facilitate their entry into Enugu State as investors.”