IRNA – Iran’s Ambassador to South Africa Mohsen Movahhedi-Qomi said the two capitals are trying to materialize the target of two billion-dollar trade exchange set by the Iranian and South African presidents last year during a visit to Tehran by President Jacob Zuma.


The Iranian and South African diplomacy apparatuses and economic institutes are moving in line with the target of the $2bn trade exchanges, stressed the ambassador while commenting on a visit to Pretoria by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Zarif began his African tour on Sunday at the head of a high-ranking delegation by a visit to South Africa which will later take him to Uganda and Niger.

He is in South Africa to attend the 13th Meeting of the two countries’ Joint Economic Commission and hold talks with the country’s senior officials.

The visit is aimed at promoting bilateral relations in the Middle East and Africa, said the ambassador noting that the areas intended for promoting cooperation are economy, education and science.

Tehran and Pretoria enjoy excellent and long-term ties and share common stances in many regional and international issues, Movahhedi-Qomi said.

While in South Africa, Zarif is to attend a meeting by economic elites, officials of economic institutes and heads of big enterprises, he added.

Noting that South Africa is greatly keen on expanding economic relations with Iran, Movahhedi-Qomi said that Zarif will also take part in a meeting with the South African media.

The two countries boast of huge capacities for cooperation, he said, noting that South Africa can serves a good market for Iran’s oil industry.

Getting access to South African energy market amounts to entering markets of other countries in South Africa, Iran’s ambassador said.