Iran and Zimbabwe should move toward joint investments and more consistent trade exchanges, the vice president of Iran Chamber of Commerce said, proposing the creation of a bilateral business council to advance shared economic priorities.
Qadir Qiafeh told Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Albert R. Chimbindi, in a meeting in Tehran on Monday that Iran’s 22 million educated youth, substantial mineral reserves and strong high-tech and mining industries offered a solid basis for cooperation. Zimbabwe, he said, is also a young economy with a GDP of $53 billion and growth of 6.6%, driven largely by agriculture and mining.
“These combined capacities indicate strong prospects for valuable and profitable cooperation for both sides,” Qiafeh said.
He said mining and mineral-processing projects should form the core of bilateral cooperation, noting that joint investment in extraction and especially mineral processing could be mutually beneficial. He also pointed to agriculture, food industries and the supply of agricultural machinery as promising areas, adding that establishing agro-processing units near Zimbabwean farms could create stable jobs and deepen ties.
Qiafeh said Iran is also interested in participating in the construction of power and gas plants, combined-cycle facilities, electricity transmission lines and solar power stations for mines and industrial zones in Zimbabwe. Iran, he added, has strong capabilities in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment production and health-sector training.
Chimbindi welcomed expanded cooperation with Iranian companies in mineral exploration, extraction and processing, adding that Zimbabwe also sought partners to build power and gas plants to address infrastructure gaps and energy shortages.
Describing Zimbabwe’s strategic position as a gateway to African markets, he said the country’s membership in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the Southern African Development Community offered strong market access opportunities for Iranian firms.