Iran’s Industry and Mines Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian placed Malaysia together with Iran and Turkey as countries to have the best situation to produce cars among 56 Muslim countries.

According to Bernama , quoting Iranian news agency, IRNA, Ali Akbar said this in Tehran at a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Saipa, an Iranian car production company, and national car maker Proton.

Under the memorandum, the two companies are expected to share strategies in design, development, marketing, sales, joint investment, using financial capabilities and supply networks with one another.

Mehrabian said taking advantage of Islamic countries’ big market had been underlined in the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting.

Strategic step

He added Saipa and Proton can take advantage of their common potentials and capacities in the field of car manufacturing to access new markets.

He also welcomed the MoU between the two companies as a good start for joint cooperation.

“It is expected that the move could be a strategic step toward continuation of joint activities in the field of car manufacturing,” he was quoted as saying.

Saipa managing director Mehrdad Bazrpash and his Proton counterpart Syed Zainal Abidin signed a MoU on cooperation in the presence of Ali Akbar Mehrabian.

Saipa has exported cars to 29 countries and Proton also exported cars to various countries last year.