Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari called for holding joint commissions of Iran and African countries with the aim of following up implementation of agreements and growing economic and trade ties.

On Monday, February 5, 2024, the Headquarters for Coordination of Foreign Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized an extraordinary meeting with the aim of reviewing the current status of economic and trade relations with African countries. Chaired by Dr. Mehdi Safari, Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy, this meeting focused on the pursuit of strengthening new export markets in Africa, expanding mutual cooperation, particularly in the economic sector, and capitalizing on the capacities and investment opportunities available in Africa. Representatives from relevant institutions, including Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, participated in this meeting.

During the opening remarks of the meeting, Dr. Mehdi Safari highlighted the significance of Algeria within Africa and acknowledged the favorable working environment. He emphasized that cooperation with Algeria is one of the key priorities in the African region. Dr. Safari further emphasized the importance of focusing on the establishment of preferential tariffs, provision of technical and engineering services, and collaboration in the fields of transportation and energy. These areas of mutual interest can be effectively implemented through meticulous planning and coordination among the relevant departments.

Moreover, Dr. Ali Es-haghi, Director General of Razi Institute, expressed his appreciation for the support received from the Economic Diplomacy Deputy to RVSRI. He provided a comprehensive report on the current status of relations with the targeted African countries and shared that valuable information has been obtained regarding the target countries, and the availability of consumable biological products has been announced. Furthermore, Razi Institute has successfully conducted two specialized and technical training courses in vaccine production and control for Mali and Mauritania. Additionally, plans are underway to organize a new course for participants from Senegal. The institute is actively engaged in identifying business agents in the target countries, and comprehensive planning for future collaborations will commence shortly.

In conclusion, Dr. Mehdi Safari underscored the importance of addressing the current challenges in fostering mutual cooperation with African countries. He emphasized the significance of organizing technical and specialized meetings, implementing meticulous and professional planning, and ensuring appropriate scheduling. Dr. Safari stressed the need for taking incremental steps to effectively achieve the defined goals.