Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
Zimbabwe will this month host the Zimbabwe-Iran Trade and Investment Conference aimed at deepening economic ties that exist between the two nations.
This emerged during an event to mark 46 years of the victory of the Islamic revolution.
Zimbabwe and Iran ties that began in 1979 have over the years grown and under the economic diplomacy thrust of the National Development Strategy One grown in areas of health and trade cooperation.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable Sheillah Chikomo said, “The convening of the Middle Review, the MTR, in a course to ensure that we follow through with the commitments made in the ninth session of the Zimbabwe-Iran Joint Commitment Commission on Cooperation, the JPCC. In that vein, we also look forward to the convening of the Zimbabwe-Iran Trade and Investment Conference, ZITIC, which will take place later this month, where we will deliberate on the strategies to deepen our bilateral economic cooperation. Cooperation in the health sector has been enhanced by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in the field of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, medical education, health tourism, and health system management.”
Iranian Charge de Affaires Mr Hadi Taheri said the joint agreements between the two countries are pushing their economic growth.
“The Islamic Republic, with the support of the people of Zimbabwe in the fight against colonialism and racial discrimination, established a political relationship with the country at the beginning of its independence and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran being in Harare in 1980. The relationship between the two countries is now strategic and Zimbabwe has friendly relations in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“In addition, the Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is present in Zimbabwe, and we are working to enhance cultural relations between the two countries. One of these areas is academic cooperation, and currently, the Islamic Republic of Iran has offered a large number of scholarships for Zimbabwean students.
“Officials from both countries have made numerous reciprocal visits, and to date, nine joint economic commissions have been held. Furthermore, over 100 agreements and memorandums of understanding have been signed between the two countries. High-ranking officials of the Republic of Zimbabwe are thanked and appreciated for their efforts in developing the bilateral relations between the two countries,” he said.
Ties between Harare and Tehran have over the years seen the exchange of high-level visits, with the late President Ebrahim Raisi visiting Zimbabwe in 2023.
Various memoranda of understanding have been signed in areas of health, education and trade under the Zimbabwe-Iran Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation.
