The value of Iran’s export of foodstuffs and agricultural products to Africa rose 18 percent during the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-November 21), the director-general of the Market Study and Development Department of Rural Cooperative Organization announced.
Ruhollah Latifi said that Iran exported 41,000 tons of such products worth $28 million to the African countries in the mentioned eight-month period, which also indicates 34 percent growth in weight, year on year.
He said that Iran’s foodstuffs and agricultural products were exported directly to 33 African countries in the first eight months of the present year.
Over the past 40 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has never given up on its principled policy towards Africa due to political and cultural commonalities, despite the sanctions, pressure and disruptions of the West, and has always maintained itself alongside the people and countries of Africa.
As reported, during the Iranian calendar years 1384 and 1385 (March 2005-March 2007), the relations between Iran and the African continent increased in terms of trade, but since 1386, the economic relations between Iran and Africa have decreased due to the economic crisis and cruel sanctions against Iran.
Surveys show that in the past years, due to the lack of restoration of economic relations with Africa, the amount of trade with the countries of this continent has remained at the level of $1.2 billion, but according to Mohammed-Sadeq Qanadzadeh, the director general of the Africa Department of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), facilitating the trade route with Africa is happening now and it is expected that the trade figure with this continent will reach $10 billion in the next three years.
In fact, good steps have been taken to use Africa’s capacity, and Africa can be a suitable market for Iranian goods, Qanadzadeh stated.
Last year, the official referred to the beginning of the 13th government’s measures to develop relations with the African continent, and said: “Over the past [Iranian calendar] year 1400 (ended on March 20, 2022).—Tehran Times
