MEDIA RELEASE

.VISIT TO IRAN AND EUROPE

Statement by The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National  Resources and Overseas Trade,.Rt Hon.  J.D. Anthony.

I will be visiting Iran between August 8th and 11th to  lead the Australian delegation to the inaugural meeting of the  Australia/Iran Joint Ministerial Commission. I will then be  going on to Britain, Switzerland and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Australia/Iran Joint Ministerial Commission, established  last year, aims to increase and intensify trade and economic  relations and will examine opportunities for co-operation  between the two countries in the economic, scientific and .   technological fields. .

His Excellency Mr. M. Rouhani, the Iranian Minister of  Agriculture and Natural Resources, will lead the Iranian .   delegation to the Joint Ministerial Commission meetings.  Â·

An Australian delegation of officials is now in Tehran  for preliminary talks with Iranian officials and I look forward  to my discussions with Mr. Rouhani on the range of matters  which are identified as appropriate for consideration at the  Ministerial level.

There is a very strong interest in Australian Government  and commercial circles in strengthening and deepening our trade  and economic relationship with Iran. The activities in Iran of  Australian commercial interests already cover a very wide field and

there are opportunities for the further development of trade in  foodstuffs and in raw materials and other inputs, required by  Iranian industry.  In addition there are developing prospects  for industrial and technical co-operation with Iranian enterprises

in a number of fields where Australia has a demonstrated  capability - for example agriculture and mining. .

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  An important objective of my discussions at the Joint  Ministerial Commission meeting will be toadvance the interests  of a number of Australian commercial enterprises regarding  transactions and ventures currently in operation Or which are  under negotiation with Iranian enterprises.

In Britain, I will be holding talks with Mr.. Edmund Dell,   Secretary of State for Trade,  and senior British officials on  general trade matters, and will also have discussions on energy  matters.

I will meet British businessmen to discuss trade and  investment in Australia,  and will address a meeting attended by _   members of the Australia-British Trade Association, the Confederation  of British Industry, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce

and the British-Australia Society.

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2  .

While in Britain-I will visit the atomic energy facilities  at Windscale, and the URENCO uranium enrichment facility at  Capenhurst, and have talks at both centres with officials of the .   organisations involved. .

These visits and discussions will enable me to fill  out the information I have already gained through discussions  in Japan and the Soviet Union,  and through my visit a few days  ago to the prospective uranium mining area of the Northern Territory

The total picture of uranium matters which all these  discussions, will give me will be of considerable value to the  Government- when it comes to make decisions following its  consideration of the report of the inquiry at present being  conducted by Mr. Justice Fox.

I will also inspect the British Gas Corporation's  natural gas production facilities in the North Sea, and its  onshore processing operations. .

Again,  this will be useful in adding to the Government's  knowledge of this industry which I believe will become of  great economic significance to Australia as the North-West Shelf  project proceeds in Western Australia.  .

Following my visit to Britain I also intend to visit  Geneva to discuss with Mr. Olivier Long, the Director-General of  the Secretariat of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade,  progress in the current Multilateral Trade Negotiations,  and  related matters.

In the Federal Republic, I will be meeting top. German  businessmen.in Dusseldorf and Hamburg to discuss investment  opportunities in Australia and, in particular, to explain to them  the Australian Government's policy on foreign investment.

Mrs.  Anthony will launch a bulk ore carrier for the  Australian National Line at Hamburg on August 20th. At the  invitation of the Chairman, Mr. N. Jenner, I will speak on.behalf  of ANL. and the Government, at a function to be held in  connection with this event.  '

CANBERRA,  3rd August.

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