During a meeting with Burkina Faso's Deputy Foreign Minister Isa Boro, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian stressed that fostering relations with African nations holds a significant position in Iran's foreign policy. He said that Iran had put the development of relations with African countries on its agenda and welcomed the expansion of ties with Burkina Faso.
Amirabdollahian and Boro
Amirabdollahian expressed satisfaction with the progress and growth of relations between the two states and hoped the forthcoming Joint Commission for Comprehensive Cooperation meeting between the two countries would be an excellent opportunity to regulate relations across various economic, commercial, scientific, and educational domains.
Boro, on his part, expressed his contentment with his visit to Tehran and explained that the purpose of his trip was to explore areas of mutual interest, particularly in the economic realm. He emphasized Burkina Faso's decision to reopen its embassy in Tehran and appoint an ambassador, highlighting the strong willingness from both sides to foster relations.
The two sides also deliberated on methods to expand cooperation in energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. They agreed to continue their consultations to enhance relations between Iran and Burkina Faso further.
Boro also met with Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran's deputy foreign minister for political affairs and Iran's chief negotiator on nuclear issues.
Iran's commitment to developing relations with West African countries was highlighted at the Iran-West Africa International Economic Cooperation Conference (IRAN WAC) held in Tehran on March 7. Representatives from 15 West African countries attended the Summit.
Alireza Paymanpak, the Head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI), announced at the Conference planned maritime route will be launched between Iran and West Africa in collaboration with the private sector. He also highlighted the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade's focus on enhancing trade activities between Iran and African nations. Regarding air travel, Peymanpak confirmed that negotiations and permits had been initiated for direct flights by one or two airlines.
Mohsen Rezaei, Iranian vice president for economic affairs, stressed the importance of expanding trade and proposed the establishment of a joint bank between Iran and Africa. He proposed the creation of a mutual bank for bilateral accounts, facilitating transactions using the common currencies of the countries and reducing reliance on the US dollar and the euro. This initiative could serve as a significant step in promoting cooperation.
Iran-West Africa Economic Summit (IRAN WAC)
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