India-Iran to enhance cooperation in renewable energy

India and Iran have agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of renewable energy. In a meeting with President of Iran Mr. Mehmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah called for an enhancement in bilateral ties and economic cooperation with Iran especially in the field of renewable energy. President Ahmadinejad agreed that the two countries should use their full potential to enhance cooperation and bilateral ties.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Abdullah had a bilateral meeting with the Iranian Energy Minister, Mr. Majid Namjou. Mr. Namjou called India a leading country in the production of renewable energy. He added that Iran intended to develop renewable energies in cooperation with India. Dr. Abdullah outlined the progress that India had made in generating power through use of renewable energies, especially wind and solar. He also highlighted the progress of India’s National Solar Mission which has resulted in significant increase in installed capacity and an almost 40% fall in costs.

Dr. Abdullah also had bilateral meetings with the Governor-General of Shiraz, Mr. Hossein Sadegh Abedin, and Governor-General of Isfahan, Dr. Alireza Zakar Esfahani. Dr. Abdullah recalled the ancient, cultural and civilizational ties between the two countries and the similarities in lifestyle and languages of the two countries. He warmly spoke of the contributions of ancient Persia to Indian culture and architecture. He also called for enhanced cooperation in tourism, cultural exchanges and people to people contacts.

Dr. Abdullah was accompanied by Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Minister for Science & Technology and Information Technology, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Government of Jammu & Kashmir and Shri Gireesh B. Pradhan, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.