Irans Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.[/caption]Tehran, Feb 24, IRNA A senior Iranian diplomat said here on Tuesday that the Republic of South Africa is a gateway to the market of the Southern Africa region.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa Bheki Cele.
He also urged South Africa to look at Iran as a gateway to the markets of Central Asia, the Caucasus and Russia.
Cele, for his part, called for expansion of South Africa-Iran cooperation in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Iran has a relatively significant presence in agricultural and economic projects in some African countries and has been a major contributor to humanitarian missions in the continent over the past years.
The intensified diplomacy on Africa is a sign of Irans willingness to engage deeper in African political and economic equations, a move that can bolster the countrys foothold in the region significantly.
By IRNA
