Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines Gholam Hossein Shafei will lead the trade delegation to South Africa, according to the Trend news agency’s correspondent in Tehran.
During the planned three-day visit, the representatives from the Iranian private sector will sit down with African merchants and businesspeople active in the fields of mines, food, engineering services, petrochemical products, oil, medicine and pharmaceutical equipment, tourism, car manufacturing, and household appliances, the report added.
Iran exported $518 million worth of commodities to Africa in the nine months to Dec. 22, 2017, up by 23% compared with last year’s corresponding period.
Director General of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran’s Arabic- African Affairs Office Farzad Piltan said in January that there is ample untapped potential for Iran and Africa to boost trade.
Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif toured West Africa in July 2016 with the aim of boosting diplomatic and trade relations with African states.
President Hassan Rouhani has repeatedly stressed his government’s interest in upgrading ties with African countries.