Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, accompanied by a large business delegation, would visit Iran next week to explore new market, local media reported on Saturday.

The business delegation would consist of representatives of about 60 companies, including main Croatian energy companies Koncar Electrical Industries and the INA oil and gas company.

It would be one of the largest delegations to accompany the president abroad this year, a press briefing from the president office said, adding Iran represents great potential and major global players were trying to return to the market of 80 million inhabitants after UN sanctions on Iran were lifted.

By now the annual trade between the two countries stands at 4 million euros (4.5 million U.S. dollars).

During the three-day official visit, between May 17-19, Grabar-Kitarovic, also to be accompanied by Economy Minister Tomislav Panenic and Entrepreneurship and Crafts Minister Darko Horvat, would meet with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani separately, the report said.

An Iranian-Croatian economic forum was schedule to hold in Teheran during the visit as well, it added.

Source: XINHUA