For this reason, a cooperation agreement was inked between Iran and Kenya during President Raisi's visit to bolster economic activities, Deputy Ministry of Agriculture Alireza Paymanpak said.
Expounding on the significant achievements of Raisi’s visit to three African nations, namely Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe, he pointed out that this continent has the focal attention of advanced countries and new emerging economies including Turkey and China due to its unique specifications such as climatic condition, fertile soil and diversified investment opportunities.
Promoting economic interactions with Africa has been put at the top of the agenda of Iran since the current administration took office (August 2021) due to the same reason, Paymanpak continued.
Of a total $1.2 trillion value of trade in the African continent, about $600 billion is related to imports while the same amount is related to exports, he noted.
The deputy minister of agriculture went on to say that the value of Iran’s trade with African countries has reached from $600 million since the beginning of the current administration to $1.2 billion now, stressing that the country can import a part of its requirements to protein from Africa.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Paymanpak pointed to the fisheries sector and said that a cooperation agreement was inked between Iran and Kenya, according to which, Iranian fishers can take advantage of coastal areas of this African nation.
Extraterritorial cultivation was also discussed between Iranian and Ugandan officials during the presidential visit and it was agreed that the government of Uganda provide Iran with 10,000 ha of agricultural land for this purpose.