Iran's Deputy Commerce Minister Mojtaba Khosrow Taj and Head of Sharjah Economic Development Bureau Sheikh Tareq Ibn Fisal al-Qasemi attended the opening ceremony.

Over 135 trading companies and institutes are displacing their latest products and services in a six thousands square meter plot of land.

The Expo-Sharjah is to continue for five days.

The Iranian companies have showcased their latest products and services in tourism, commerce, handicraft industries as well as cultural activities.

Products including household appliances, leather, construction materials, generating power equipment, transformers, handicrafts, carpets, banking and commercial services in the UAE, communication means as well as computers have been put on display at the fair.

Commercial departments from various provinces have jointly cooperated to run the fair.

Children's music festivals was held on the sidelines of the fair to entertain young visitors.

Three gatherings on commerce and tourism are to be held during the fair.

This is the biggest trade fair to be held by Iran in the region, according to local officials in the UAE.

Holding such trade exhibitions help expand mutual cooperation in line with the will of both sides' officials, he said.

Iran is a large economy in the Persian Gulf region and that holding such trade fairs is considered as strides towards expansion of ties and cooperation between Iran and regional countries, said the local official.

The two sides' private sectors can make use of such events to actively launch business cooperation and help promote tourism industry, he pointed out.

On joint investments by the two countries, he said Iran and the UAE can jointly cooperate for re-export of products to countries of the region, Khosrow Taj said.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, a round table on prospects of joint investment opportunities between the two countries is to be held.

A number of pavilions have been allocated to introducing Iran's free trade zones and varieties of services provided by Iranian banks for foreign customers.

Iran-UAEtrade volume to rise by 53.2 pc in 2004

Dubai, Dec 26, IRNA -- The volume of Iran-UAE trade exchange is to rise by 53.2 percent to about 16.10 billion dirhams in 2004 compared to 2003.

Sharjah Economic Development Office reported on Sunday that Iran is one of the major trading partners of Abu Dhabi.

Dubai Customs Office already announced that Abu Dhabi's re-exports to Iran had surmounted to dlrs 10 million in the first three months of the year.

Iran ranks third among the countries via which Abu Dhabi exports its goods.