The African continent, with an area of about 30 million square kilometers, about a fifth of the world’s landmass, and a population of about 1.4 billion, has nearly half of the world’s gold and a third of the world’s minerals. 12% of the world’s oil and 8% of the natural gas reserves of the world are also in Africa. Fertile lands for agriculture, a large population of consumers, and an important geographical location are among the other parts of the wealth of this continent.
The African people suffered for many years during the British and French colonial period. Since their independence, they have been looking for independent partners who do not want to colonize their countries. Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran is viewed as a progressive country with rich economic resources and a rich cultural heritage. Along with Iran, about 50 countries out of 54 African countries as members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) are seeking to establish a new order based on multilateralism. At the same time, 30 African countries have more than 50% of the Muslim population, and this capacity is doubly important from the perspective of cultural cooperation.
The three countries of Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe, which are the destinations of Raisi’s trip, are especially important. Zimbabwe is one of the progressive and active members of the NAM, which fought against the apartheid regime in South Africa for years and was one of the frontline countries in the fight against racial discrimination. During the era of “Robert Mugabe”, the relations between the two countries reached a very good level and the summit of the NAM was held in this country. In this regard, Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, visited this country during his presidency. Due to the good market and the existence of mines and natural resources, good opportunities can be obtained in the fields of trade and investment in Zimbabwe.
Kenya is one of the advanced countries in central Africa. It has access to the sea and the ocean, and in terms of sea transportation, it can be one of Iran’s good partners and a link between our country and African countries. This country is also interested in using Iran’s transportation lines to reach Europe and Asia. Kenya will be a good market for Iranian goods, and due to having water resources and fertile lands, it can be one of Iran’s targets for extraterritorial cultivation.
Uganda, a progressive country, is one of the pioneers of the NAM and the fight against unilateralism. This country, which is located next to Kenya and is the origin of the Nile River, is developing, and its good market and rich resources can be an opportunity for Iran.
Fortunately, the private sector in Iran is familiar with Africa and these three countries, namely Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The presence of a private sector delegation next to the government’s delegation can make this sector active in these three countries as well. The government, as a platform builder, should encourage the private sector to operate in these three countries by providing incentives such as discounts on transportation issues or granting credit for presence in Africa.
In general, the Islamic Republic, as a progressive and Non-Aligned country, can be a true friend and partner for the people of Africa, and it is hoped that good agreements would be reached during the president’s visit to this continent to secure mutual interests.
(The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect those of IRNA)
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