Niger Welcomes Imports of Iranian Mining Products

TEHRAN (Iran News) Sidou Zataou Ali, the Ambassador of Niger, met on Monday with Mohammad Aghajani Lou, Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade and Chairman of IMIDRO. Ambassador Zataou Ali conveyed hope that formal cooperation between the two nations — through a memorandum of understanding — would be established swiftly, avoiding bureaucratic delays.

The ambassador also extended an invitation to the IMIDRO chairman to visit Niger to explore mining opportunities firsthand. He expressed optimism that commercial links, including enhanced maritime trade and transport infrastructure, would be developed. He added that the planned visit of Niger’s Minister of Mines to Iran would be an appropriate occasion to finalize the agreement.

During the meeting, IMIDRO’s chairman Aghajani Lou stressed the importance of developing trade across the mining value chain and exporting Iranian engineering and technical expertise.

He highlighted Iran’s significant capacity in the mining sector and noted the country’s aim to activate these capabilities by deepening economic relations with African nations. Aghajani Lou stated that IMIDRO’s initial focus would be on exporting mining and mineral industry products to Niger, along with engineering know-how, subject to completion of legal procedures.

Also present at the meeting were Somayeh Kholousi, Director of Planning and Empowerment at IMIDRO; Omid Emami, Director of Mining and Mineral Industry Development Projects; and Amirnoujan Younesian, Director of Economic Affairs and Investment Development. The team presented Iran’s technical and industrial capabilities in the mining sector.

According to IRNA, Iran recorded approximately $14 billion in mineral and mining industry exports last year. However, African countries currently represent only a small portion of the market for Iranian mineral products. Iran has around 7,000 active mines, extracting 600 million tons of material annually — serving as a backbone for production and employment in the country.