Iran Chamber of Commerce says the country’s private construction firms can actively invest in Sierra Leone, a country in the west of Africa.
Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) President Gholam Hossein Shafei told Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Iran Alie Badara Kamara that his country can cooperate with the African country in infrastructure and civil engineering projects. “Iran has good achievements in construction and engineering sectors and is able to take part in building infrastructure [in Sierra Leone] as well as export construction materials,” he said at the meeting.
The ICCIMA president stressed the Sierra Leone can turn into one of Iran trade and economic targets given the country’s significant Muslim population. “The Iranian government and private sector’s policy is to prioritise expanding its international trade ties with Muslim nations,” Shafei said.
According to a 2010 estimates by the Pew Research Center, 78% of Sierra Leone's population are Muslims (mostly Sunni), 20.9 are Christians (mostly Protestants) and 1% belong to a traditional African religion or other beliefs.
Iran Chamber of Commerce President highlighted that his country is ready to export its technical expertise to the west African country.
The Sierra Leonean envoy noted the his government’s priority is to expand trade and economic ties with Iran, urgin the Iranian businesses to invest in his country. “Through direct investment, experience and knowledge is also transferred. It will also help create sustainable jobs,” Alie Badara Kamara said.
He also called for advanced machinery to industrialise Sierra Leone’s traditional agricultural sector.
Earlier, the Sierra Leonean official had called for Iranian investment during a meeting with Tehran Chamber of Commerce President Masood Khansari.