TEHRAN (IRNA) — Visiting Cuban deputy trade minister said here Monday that Iran national car has up-to-date technology.

Following a visit of the 'Samand' assembly line at Iran-Khodro Industrial Group, Pedro Loius Padroun-Zamoura added that the model has special features which attract people with different taste.

He also expressed his country's interest in cooperation with Iran in exports of cars and other industrial affairs.

He further vowed that upon return to Cuba he will brief the Cuban government and industrialists on manner of investments in the Iranian industrial sector.

The report said that Samand will be in the market by the second half of the 2005. "Egypt, Senegal and Ukraine are keen to embark on joint investment with Iran Khodro in manufacturing of the model," it said.

The two countries have forged close trade and industrial cooperation.

In July, Iranian Ambassador to Havana Ahmad Edrissian and Cuban Head of Iran-Cuba joint commission Gabrias explored ways of cooperation between the two countries.

The Cuban official alluded to the cordial ties between Tehran and Havana. Given the 20-million euro loan by Iran to Cuba, Havana intends to expand trade with Tehran, he added.

Havana also seeks to delineate specific mechanisms for facilities on behalf of sellers and purchasers to expedite the trade exchange, he stated.

Edrissian said while Tehran and Havana have widespread cooperation in the political field, their economic relations are not satisfactory.

"However, recently important steps have been taken in this regard," he added.

The bilateral trade volume stood at $50 million in 2003. The exchange includes Iran purchase of sugar and medicine from Cuba, while Iranian export to Cuba consists of raw material for textiles, plastics, sugar cane production machinery and electrical parts, he stated.