The issue was decided during a visit to the IKCO headquarters in Tehran by Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and his accompanying politico-economic delegation, including Mauritania's Foreign Minister Naha Mint Mouknass and Finance Minister Sid'Ahmed Ould Raiss.
"It is an honor for me to visit IKCO. Islamic countries should take a good advantage of Iran's modern technology and industrial capabilities," Abdel Aziz said.
During the visit, IKCO CEO Javad Najmeddin welcomed the request by the Mauritanian president, and announced IKCO's readiness to supply the market needs of the African state.
Referring to IKCO's capabilities in designing and producing gasoline and diesel-engine vehicles in different models and prices, Najmeddin called the visit as a cornerstone for deep and broad cooperation in the automotive sector between Iran and Mauritania.
Najmeddin also reiterated that IKCO is the biggest manufacturer of passenger and commercial vehicles in the Middle East, adding, "IKCO has established production plants in Azerbaijan, Syria, Belarus, Egypt, Senegal and Venezuela and we hope to set up close cooperation with Mauritania as well."
Algeria, Egypt and Senegal are the African countries that have witnessed Samand march on their streets so far. Mauritania, a neighboring country of Senegal and Algeria, is located in the northwestern Africa.
Iran's state-owned Iran-Khodro is the largest carmaker in the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa, with an annual production of more than one million vehicles of various models, including cars, trucks, minibuses and buses.
IKCO is also ramping up exports as it builds a global presence outside Iran.
The company officials have said they want to boost annual production to more than a million vehicles and hike exports to more than 600,000 by 2016.
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