Mukherjee said the two countries should work together to further promote trade and economic links, increased people- to-people contacts between them and within the region.
Observing the current bilateral trade was highly tilted towards Iran, President Pranab Mukherjee has stressed the need for an increase in import of Indian goods by Iran to balance the commercial ties.
This was conveyed by Mukherjee during his meeting with an Iranian Parliamentary delegation, led by its Consultative Assembly Speaker Ali Larijani, at Rashtrapati Bhavan here yesterday.
"Presently, our bilateral trade is weighted in favour of Iran. Indian markets are open to Iranian exports. India hopes that Iran would source more goods from India," he said during the interaction.
Mukherjee said the two countries should work together to further promote trade and economic links, increased people- to-people contacts between them and within the region.
Noting that India and Iran are close neighbours, Mukherjee said the excellent bilateral relations between them have been strengthened through high-level exchanges and regular engagements through various dialogue mechanisms.
"India and Iran have a strong bilateral economic relationship and it needs to further deepen for the benefit of peoples of both countries.
"We must work together to promote trade and economic links and increased people-to-people contacts between us and within the region," the President said, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan press release.
India's total exports to Iran in April-September 2012 amounted to USD 1.4 billion, a quarter of the value of its imports from Iran during the period, according to an Indian government data.
India and Iran, Mukherjee said, have a responsibility to address the challenges to region and the world like terrorism, energy security, food security, climate change, environment and natural disasters.
"Peace and stability in Afghanistan is a key to the progress in the region," he said.
The President expressed happiness that India and Iran were engaged in regular exchange of information and views on the developments in Afghanistan.
India is actively engaged in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.
Larijani said Iran looks forward to a strategic and long-term partnership with India.
"India and Iran come from same roots and their destinies are the same. A large area of cooperation is possible between the two countries," he said.
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