India and Iran signed nine key agreements on Saturday, 17 February, to bolster cooperation in areas of healthcare and agriculture besides many others.
Further strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the agreements were signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
India and Iran signed an agreement to avoid burden of double taxation between the two countries in order to promote flow of investment and services.
The two countries also agreed to waive the requirement of visa for those holding diplomatic passports.
There was an exchange of the Instrument of Ratification of Extradition Treaty – a 2008 treaty signed between New Delhi and Tehran which defined a legal framework for seeking extradition of terrorists, economic offenders, and other criminals from and to Iran.
India and Iran signed two MoUs in boost to healthcare in both countries.
Under the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine, the two countries agreed on regulation of teaching, practice, drugs and drugless therapies. India and Iran will exchange experts for training of practitioners, paramedics, scientists, teaching professionals and students. Both nations agreed to set up academic chairs.
As per the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine, Tehran and New Delhi will establish comprehensive inter-ministerial and inter-institutional cooperation, and upgrade the quality and reach of human, material and infrastructural resources in healthcare, medical education, research and training
Doctors and health professionals will be trained and new healthcare facilities will be set up.
A lease contract for the Shahid Beheshti Port-Phase 1 of Chabahar for a term of 18 months was signed. The port located in Sistan-Baluchestan Province was inaugurated in December 2017 by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in presence of representatives from India and Afghanistan.
Other MoUs signed were in the field of agriculture and allied sectors, establishment of expert group on trade remedy measures and on postal cooperation.
Four more MoUs were signed by trade bodies. These include MoUs between EEPC India and Trade Promotion Organisation of Iran; between Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA); between the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines & Agriculture (ICCIMA); and, between PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA).
Following the exchange of agreements, PM Modi and Rouhani addressed a joint press conference underlining their commitment towards stopping those who support terrorism and further strengthen ties between the two nations.
Read More: Modi-Rouhani committed to end terrorism, develop Chabahar further