Tehran, IRNA – The three-day International Meeting of Scientific and Economic Cooperation between Iran and West African Countries kicked off in Tehran on Monday, March 6, with ministers, ambassadors and representatives of trade, energy and industrial sectors of Iran and West African states being in attendance. High-ranking Iranian officials have hailed relations with Africa and stressed the importance of deepening cooperation between the two sides.
First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber announced the signing of 20 cooperation documents on the first day of the gathering, saying that holding such meetings indicates the political determination of both Iran and Africa to develop economic ties.
He said that boosting relations with Africa is among the basic policies of the administration of President Ebrahim Raisi, promising that the administration will do whatever it can to make that happen.
Mokhber said that trade with West African countries accounts for 40% of the whole trade between Iran and the continent, adding that the level, however, is not acceptable and should be increased given the existing potentials of Iran and West Africa.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari also addressed the meeting on Monday.
He said that economies of Iran and Africa complete each other, which can lead to eye-catching achievements given the numerous capacities that exist.
Safari explained that the current Iranian administration, in addition to trade and economic relations, has put on its agenda the development of cooperation in other sectors including culture and science with Africa, particularly countries on the west of the continent.
Similar comments were echoed by Minister of Industry, Trade and Mine Reza Fatemi as he delivered a speech at the meeting.
He said that Iran’s exports to Africa have significantly grown in the past months, adding that oil, gas, engineering and technical services as well as construction are some of the sectors Iran can use to further boost exports to Africa.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the minister also said that delegates from ten West African countries are participating in the gathering.
He said a 50-member delegation of the participants is due to pay visits to different Iranian manufacturing units such as oil and gas as well as ship-building, among others.
Source: Islamic Republic News Agency – IRNA
