Africa, a new opportunity ...
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However, we are witnessing a new approach adopted by the current Iranian government towards relations with African countries, which we hope would open up new opportunities to expand relations and economic cooperation between Iran and African countries.
During the last Iranian year, 20 ministers from African countries visited Tehran, which indicates their attention to Iran. Last year, the volume of Iran’s trade with Nigeria saw a significant increase, reaching about $200 million, and is expected to reach more than $300 million this year.
At the same time, Iran’s Foreign Ministry is also taking special heed to the political and economic potential in the African Continent, and has encouraged Iran’s businessmen and private sector to promote their cooperation with African countries as a new market. However, due to the long distance and short-term view of the private sector, economic cooperation has not reached its potential so far.
President Raeisi’s visit to Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe will definitely pave the way for improving relations. In addition to commodities, the African countries can also import technology from Iran.
In fact, the change in relations between Iran and the African Continent has occurred in the shadow of the policies and programs introduced by the current administration; however, measures should be taken to expand relations and reach bilateral and multilateral agreements with the African countries.
Raeisi’s trip to the African countries will be a good opportunity to speed up this development. Iran’s private sector should also take advantage of this great opportunity and prepare itself to enter new markets.