TEHRAN (Iran News) Safari noted that Iran currently operates shipping lines connecting to East and North Africa, with Iranian vessels regularly traveling to ports in Tanzania, Kenya, and Libya. “These ships depart monthly or bimonthly, depending on cargo availability and logistical arrangements,” he said. However, the new initiative focuses on establishing direct maritime connections to West and Southwest Africa, a decision formalized during an Africa Committee meeting. Part of this plan includes modernizing Iran’s shipping fleet to support expanded operations.

Safari outlined Iran’s strategic approach to African trade, categorizing countries into three priority tiers. Nations hosting Iranian embassies, trade centers, or commercial attachés—such as Kenya, South Africa, Algeria, and Nigeria—are at the forefront of this trade push. “These countries are our top priorities for deepening commercial ties,” he emphasized.

Trade between Iran and Africa largely operates on a barter system, though Safari clarified that this extends beyond simple goods exchange. “It involves complex currency and banking mechanisms,” he said, reflecting the challenges of navigating international financial systems under sanctions. Iran primarily imports minerals, agricultural products, and precious stones like diamonds and gold from Africa, while exporting petrochemicals, machinery, and equipment. However, Safari noted a shift in African preferences: “They’re more interested in joint production investments for machinery than direct imports.” Currently, bitumen and urea top Iran’s export list to the continent.

Looking ahead, Safari announced plans for a significant petrochemical export drive at the 2025 Iran-Africa Summit. Additionally, Iran is pursuing an ambitious extraterritorial farming program in Africa to secure agricultural inputs amid domestic currency constraints. “Africa could become a key supplier for Iran’s needs,” he explained. “Iranian private companies could cultivate crops there, with the produce imported back home.” This initiative requires coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture to issue import permits and set quotas. Safari added that traders engaging in such barter-based farming in 2026 would receive special incentives, pending an operational framework agreement with the ministry.

On the mining front, Safari addressed Iran’s extraterritorial mining ambitions in Africa, identifying a key challenge: “Iran prefers buying minerals over investing in African mines.” Overcoming currency export hurdles could position Africa as a priority for mining investments, he suggested, noting that Iran has already identified target minerals and mines. “There’s also potential to transfer Iranian technology and machinery to support these efforts,” he added.

Iran’s push into Africa aligns with its broader strategy to diversify trade partners and reduce reliance on oil exports amid Western sanctions. The Africa Committee, under the Vice President’s leadership, reflects a high-level commitment to this goal. Historically, Iran’s trade with Africa has been modest, but recent years have seen renewed focus, particularly in East Africa. Expanding to West and Southwest Africa—regions rich in resources like oil, gas, and minerals—could open new markets for Iranian goods and secure vital imports.

The extraterritorial farming and mining initiatives underscore Iran’s innovative approaches to circumvent financial restrictions. By leveraging barter systems and overseas production, Tehran aims to stabilize its economy while fostering sustainable partnerships. The modernization of its shipping fleet, meanwhile, signals a long-term investment in logistics to support these ambitions.

As Iran prepares for the 2025 summit, its evolving trade strategy could reshape its economic ties with Africa, offering mutual benefits in a shifting global landscape.

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Thanks to the efforts of the Iran House of Innovation and Technology (iHiT) in Kenya and the support of the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, 13 different production lines in 11 pharmaceutical companies were inspected by the ministry of health of Kenya and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificates were issued, IRIB reported.

The move plays an important role in strengthening the status of Iran’s pharmaceutical industry in the region.

In January 2021, Iran opened its house of innovation and technology in Kenya and the first center in Africa.

The center serves as a base for the creation of innovative ideas, the commercialization of these ideas, and the export of Iranian knowledge-based products and services to the East African market.

Africa welcomes Iranian medical equipment, medicine

On December 19, the deputy health minister of Libya met with the head of the Food and Drug Administration of Iran, discussing ways to cooperate on producing medical and pharmaceutical products.

During the meeting, which was held in Tehran, the officials also agreed on sharing experiences in research, education, blood transfusion, emergency services, and technology.

“Iran is a leading country in the field of health so we are ready to cooperate with Iran in various fields of health and medicine,” IRNA quoted the Libyan official as saying.

He added Libya is interested in benefiting from Iran’s experience and knowledge in the field of pharmaceutical production, medical equipment, and research.

Heidar Mohammadi, Mohammadi, for his part, referring to the production of 99 percent of medicines in Iran, said, “Iran has achieved self-sufficiency in the field of medicine, medical equipment, food products, cosmetics and powdered milks.”

“Currently, six vaccines for coronavirus are being produced by Iranian scientists, and we are ready to jointly produce these vaccines, medicines, and other devices in the health field, as well as transferring technology to Libya,” he added.

He went on to say, “The export of Iranian vaccines to neighboring countries shows Iran’s capabilities in the field of medicine and pharmaceutical production.

Moreover, Mohammad Hossein Niknam, the deputy health minister for international cooperation, highlighting the importance of health in the world said, “Iran is ready to identify fields of cooperation and expand collaboration in the field of health with Libya.”

The parties put forward some proposals to further cooperation in the field of health. These proposals are to be reviewed and implemented in the coming days in meetings, during the visits of the delegation of the Libyan Ministry of Health to Iran’s health centers.

In July, Iranian knowledge-based companies concluded contracts for exporting medical equipment and medicine to Africa.

Amir-Hossein Mir-Abadi, an official with the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, said the African market is an attractive opportunity for Iranian knowledge-based companies, IRNA reported.

Referring to the recent visit of President Ebrahim Raisi to Africa, Mir-Abadi said works are underway for exporting 50 types of medical equipment and 10 medicines to Africa.

He touched on the President’s visit to the House of Innovation and Technology of Iran in Kenya, saying: “The capacities and capabilities of Iranian knowledge-based companies for exporting technological products were greatly appreciated.”

He also pointed to the establishment of a medical and pharmaceutical equipment exhibition with the presence of more than 10 Iranian knowledge-based companies in Kenya.

He added that two Iranian companies succeeded in concluding contracts in this exhibition.

The process of registering more than 50 medical devices and two drugs for export to Kenya has been done, and the registration and process of exporting more than 10 other drugs to this country is in the implementation phase, he explained.

He listed agriculture, food, and livestock industries as among the fields that were highly regarded and needed by African countries.

“In his speech, the president of Kenya mentioned Iran’s House of Innovation and Technology several times and the infrastructure created for technological cooperation between Iranian and Kenyan companies.”

During his visits to Kenya and Uganda, President Raisi emphasized the need to bolster technological cooperation, Mir-Abadi stressed.

In Uganda, an exhibition for knowledge-based products was opened. In practice, an infrastructure has been created for boosting the export of knowledge-based products and the display of Iranian capabilities, the official added.

“The products presented there were mostly in the field of the food industry, agricultural industry, medicine and medical devices, chemical products and catalysts, building materials and products related to the field of livestock and poultry, as well as medicines and herbal supplements.”
In September 2022, Health Minister Bahram Einollahi said that Iran has one of the strongest health systems in the region and that this opportunity should be used optimally in the field of health diplomacy.

Based on innovative indicators of health technology development in 2021, Iran was ranked 60th among 132 countries, which shows an improvement of 60 steps compared to 2014, Younes Panahi, the deputy health minister for research and technology, has announced.

In June 2021, Ahmed al-Mandhari, the World Health Organization director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, said the Islamic Republic of Iran is a role model for primary health care.

The national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year 1402, which starts on March 21, has increased the health sector’s budget by 29 percent compared to the current year’s budget.

The bill has proposed a budget of 2,730 trillion rials (about $6.8 billion) for the Ministry of Health, IRNA reported.

The administration has also proposed 690 trillion rials (about $1.7 billion) as subsidies to provide medicine by health industries.

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Ruhollah Latifi  said that Iran exported 41,000 tons of such products worth $28 million to the African countries in the mentioned eight-month period, which also indicates 34 percent growth in weight, year on year.

He said that Iran’s foodstuffs and agricultural products were exported directly to 33 African countries in the first eight months of the present year.

Over the past 40 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has never given up on its principled policy towards Africa due to political and cultural commonalities, despite the sanctions, pressure and disruptions of the West, and has always maintained itself alongside the people and countries of Africa.

As reported, during the Iranian calendar years 1384 and 1385 (March 2005-March 2007), the relations between Iran and the African continent increased in terms of trade, but since 1386, the economic relations between Iran and Africa have decreased due to the economic crisis and cruel sanctions against Iran.

Surveys show that in the past years, due to the lack of restoration of economic relations with Africa, the amount of trade with the countries of this continent has remained at the level of $1.2 billion, but according to Mohammed-Sadeq Qanadzadeh, the director general of the Africa Department of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), facilitating the trade route with Africa is happening now and it is expected that the trade figure with this continent will reach $10 billion in the next three years.

In fact, good steps have been taken to use Africa’s capacity, and Africa can be a suitable market for Iranian goods, Qanadzadeh stated.

Last year, the official referred to the beginning of the 13th government’s measures to develop relations with the African continent, and said: “Over the past [Iranian calendar] year 1400 (ended on March 20, 2022), a series of measures have been initiated, which were resulted in the visit of about 60 African trade delegations, active presence in the exhibitions of this continent, the opening of 10 trade centers, and the dispatch of three commercial attaches.

As the result of these measures, Iran’s trade with Africa experienced a 100-percent growth from $650 million in the Iranian year 1399, and also in the first nine months of the year 1401, Iran-Africa trade was equal to the total trade of the previous year, and we also experienced a growth of about 700 percent in the export of technical and engineering services, he added.

Also as announced by Ruhollah Latifi, the value of trade between Iran and Africa rose two percent in the past Iranian calendar year 1401 (ended on March 20).

He put Iran-Africa annual trade at 2.545 million tons worth $1.278 billion.

Iran exported 2.452 million tons of products valued at $1.183 billion to 49 African countries in the past year, showing one percent fall, and imported 92,898 tons of goods worth $95.316 million from 23 African countries, indicating 59 percent growth, year on year, according to Latifi.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari has said that the economies of Iran and the African continent are complementary to each other, and due to their abundant capacities, significant achievements can be achieved in this due.

He made the remarks at the Scientific and Economic Cooperation Meeting Between Iran and West African Countries (IRAN WAC) which was held in Tehran in mid-March.

As reported, 20 multilateral and bilateral cooperation agreements were signed between Iran and West African countries in the first day of the mentioned event, and the expansion and deepening of comprehensive economic cooperation was emphasized.

Addressing that meeting, President Raisi emphasized Tehran’s readiness to comprehensively expand cooperation with African countries, especially countries in the west of this continent.

He also said that the current level of trade between Iran and Africa is not acceptable, and according to the capacities and efforts of the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and West African countries, it is expected that the cooperation and economic relations between them will change even more.

As stated by the experts, in order to increase the level of trade with Africa certain infrastructure including transportation and direct shipping lines, as well as proper legal, commercial, monetary, and banking relations must be provided.

It is said that in the near future, the African continent will become a great power in the world due to having 18 percent of the world’s population and increasing population growth.

Statistics show that the African continent has 30 percent of mineral reserves, 40 percent of gold, and 90 percent of chromium and platinum in the world. The continent also has the largest reserves of cobalt, diamonds, platinum and uranium in the world.

Also, Africa has 65 percent of the world’s arable land, 10 percent of renewable fresh water resources, and 12 percent of the world’s oil reserves.

As stated by Mehrad Ebad, a member of the board of representatives of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (TCCIMA), in the last 20 years, Africa’s foreign trade has grown significantly, but Iran has not yet been able to use this capacity.

According to Ebad, one of the issues that caused the African market to be neglected was the lack of proper introduction of this market to Iranian traders and businessmen.

In order to develop trade and relations with African countries, it is suggested the activity of joint chambers of commerce to introduce target markets and existing risks will be increased; Because our exporters are not interested to go to African markets due to lack of knowledge, he commented.

He also considered the cruel sanctions as another problem of trade with Africa and said that the traders are forced to send their goods to these countries through neighboring countries such as the UAE, Oman and Turkey in order to export their goods to African countries. It will cause re-export of goods and increase costs.

Despite existence of some barriers in the way of expanding trade between Iran and Africa, the visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to three African countries (Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe) in mid-July proves that the current government is serious about developing cooperation and communication with the African continent in order to secure the country’s economic interests.

Economic experts believe that the president’s visit to Africa provided the basis for increasing Iran’s presence in the 60-billion-dollar economy of the African continent and will increase the level of activity of Iranian traders and businessmen in this continent.

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Cissé is set to hold a session at the event, where he will speak about the African film industry, ISNA reported on Monday.

The 83-year-old director has been called Africa’s greatest living filmmaker while his film “Yeelen” (AKA Brightness) (1987) has been called conceivably the greatest African film ever made,

Born in Bamako and raised in a Muslim family, Cissé was a passionate cinephile from childhood. His film career began as an assistant projectionist for a documentary on the arrest of Patrice Lumumba. This triggered his desire to create films of his own, and he obtained a scholarship at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, the Moscow school of Cinema and Television.

In 1970 he returned to Mali, and joined the Ministry of Information as a cameraman, where he produced documentaries and short films. Two years later, he produced his first medium-length film, “Five Days in a Life”.

In 1974, Cissé produced his first full-length film “The Young Girl”. His second movie “Work” was released four years later and won the Yenenga’s Talon prize at Fespaco in 1979.

In 1982, Cissé produced “The Wind”, which tells the story of dissatisfied Malian youth rising up against the establishment. This earned him his second Yenenga’s Talon, at 1983’s Fespaco.

Between 1984 and 1987, he produced “Yeelen,” a coming-of-age film that won the Jury Prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first African film to win a prize in the festival’s history. Often cited as his greatest work, Cissé stated in an interview for Cahiers du Cinéma that it was “in part made in opposition to European ethnographic films” and that he “wanted to make a response to an external perception, a perception by white technicians and academics, an alien perception.”

In 1995, he produced “Time,” which also competed for the Palme d’Or at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival.

Being the president of UCECAO, the Union of Creators and Entrepreneurs of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts of Western Africa, Cissé is one of the most recognized African filmmakers of the 20th century, and his work exemplifies the development of social realism in African cinema, including its eventual movement towards the recovery of tradition.

Cissé has also been called “a master of complex storytelling, preserving the mysterious in the mundane.” His films have been known for their uncompromising depictions of military violence, abuse of money and power, trade unionism, and the enduring stranglehold of patriarchal traditions over Bamako’s women and youth.

The 17th Cinéma Vérité will be organized by the Documentary & Experimental Film Center (DEFC). It aims to represent the history and culture of Iranian Islamic society and present a real picture of what human is facing today in his/her individual and social life through documentary films.

With this objective, the special focus of this edition of the festival is on two national and international challenges: the water crisis and population issues.

A total of 2,454 documentaries from around the world have been submitted to the event including 615 works are from Iran and 1,839 foreign documentaries from Turkey, China, the U.K., Russia, Poland, Spain, Egypt, Argentina, Indonesia, and Germany among others.

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