Iran’s trade with Africa climbed to about $940 million in the first nine months of 1404, up 66% year on year, but officials say the figure remains modest against a continent of more than one billion people. Speaking at the First National Meeting on Iran-Africa Agricultural Cooperation, Agriculture Minister Nouri Qezeljeh described the growth as small in scale but correct in direction, urging planned expansion of economic ties.
Agriculture dominates the relationship: roughly two-thirds of Iran’s imports from Africa are food and farm products. Qezeljeh argued that such trade should not remain one-way, calling instead for joint value chains, mutual investment and technology transfer.
He also pointed to practical bottlenecks. Sustainable cooperation, he said, requires clear procedures, dependable transport, workable payment mechanisms, insurance and investment cover, and predictable regulations. Tariffs and trade facilitation could be pursued through bilateral agreements and regional mechanisms with relevant bodies.
The minister stressed that each project’s obstacles must be identified, assigned to a responsible agency and reviewed within clear timeframes. The meeting drew ambassadors, economic counselors, honorary consuls, officials, entrepreneurs, investors and more than 200 economic actors—participation Tehran sees as a chance to turn political will into durable partnerships.
