HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe and Iran signed 12 memorandums of understanding on Thursday to strengthen bilateral ties, marking the end of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s successful African tour.
Raisi, who previously visited Kenya and Uganda, concluded his trip by meeting with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare.
The signing of the 12 MOUs includes a significant plan to establish a tractor manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe. This joint effort involves an Iranian company and a local partner. Other cooperation agreements were also signed, encompassing sectors such as energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications. Additionally, both countries expressed interest in collaborating on research, science, and technology projects.
“We are open to investments in various sectors of our economy,” stated Mnangagwa during a press conference following the signing ceremony. While he did not disclose the expected investment from Iran, the President conveyed his country’s enthusiasm for the partnership.
Raisi, acknowledging the economic challenges faced by both Iran and Zimbabwe due to U.S. sanctions, affirmed his commitment to cultivating closer economic ties.
According to Iran’s foreign ministry, the trade between Iran and Africa is projected to surpass $2 billion this year, displaying the significance of their engagement. However, a comparative figure for the previous year was not provided.
Raisi’s visit to Africa, the first by an Iranian leader since 2013, follows his tour of three Latin American countries also affected by U.S. sanctions.
(Reporting by Nyasha Chingono; Editing by Nelson Banya, Nellie Peyton, Elaine Hardcastle)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
