TEHRAN, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iraq and Turkey are in talks with Iran to improve and upgrade the latter's aging gas stations, Financial Tribune daily reported on Saturday.
"Preliminary negotiations have been held with private enterprises from Iraq and Turkey, and they are ready to transfer the much-needed technical know-how to Iran to install advanced equipment in the Iranian gas stations," said Ali Maneshi, an official from the gas stations planning and research center.
Iran's state-run gas stations and fuel market, closed to foreign companies, "has a great potential for attracting investors," Maneshi said, adding that holding regular international meetings can help the country to introduce the unique opportunity to those who are interested in investing in this lucrative business.
Pointing to the first international conference on gas stations and related industries to be held in the capital Tehran on Dec. 24-27, Maneshi said that "trade delegations and companies from Japan, Russia, Italy, Iraq and Turkey have expressed readiness to attend the meeting to display their cutting-edge gas stations' spare parts and equipment."
According to the official, the gathering is aimed at connecting gas stations-related industries as well as paving the way for domestic and foreign investors to play more active roles in this sector.
There are 3,600 gas and diesel stations as well as 2,400 CNG stations in Iran, most of which are old and need renovation.
