During a visit to Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) by a Senegalese delegation, the two sides stressed that further enhancement of trade relations between the two countries rests upon the removal of banking and transportation obstacles.
Speaking during the meeting, Niloofar Assadi, the caretaker of international affairs of Iran Chamber of Commerce, said that promotion of economic ties with African countries is among the top priorities of Iran’s private sector and the country’s chamber of commerce.
She said that Iran’s strategic position in West Asia with access to a 400 population of the regional countries as well as a preferential trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union provides a chance for further cooperation on bilateral and multilateral trade with Senegal.
Assadi also noted that Senegal’s membership in significant economic blocs such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Monetary and Economic Union (also known under the French acronym, UEMOA) provides a special opportunity for Iran.
She regretted that despite the existing potentials for expansion of trade ties, transportation and monetary and banking obstacles are hindering further enhanced exchanges between the two countries.
Noting that the visit to Iran Chamber of Commerce by a Senegalese delegation is taking place in less than six months from an earlier visit to the chamber by another delegation from Senegal, Assadi said that it is indicative of the eagerness on both countries to give a boost to relations between their private sectors.
Sheikh Cisse, the high economic adviser to the president of Senegal, who led the Senegalese delegation to Iran, for his part, expressed satisfaction with a visit to Iran by a Senegalese delegation.
He said that we are well aware of the transportation and banking problems, adding that if we can get rid of these problems, Iran can turn into a good destination for the Senegalese commodities.
He hailed the high quality of Iranian goods being exported into Senegal and said that Iran enjoys a high potential for more cooperation with his country.