FRANKFURT, Germany—The German machine-tool manufacturers' federation VDMA said Thursday it plans to open an office in Tehran next year to help its members re-establish business links with the Islamic republic.
The sector is one of Germany's key export industries alongside cars and chemicals, and companies "hope to revitalize their traditionally very strong links with Iran" now that the West is lifting sanctions, VDMA said in a statement.
Iran and leading world powers reached a landmark agreement in July under which punishing economic sanctions will be rolled back in exchange for Iran curtailing its nuclear program.
German companies were widely present in Iran before the sanctions were imposed and are eager to restore relations.
The German machine-tool sector is made up of small, family-run businesses and has combined annual sales of more than 200 billion euros ($217 billion) and a workforce of more than one million.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2015
