Pretoria - South Africa and Iran have signed several agreements and committed to take economic and trade relations to greater heights, says the Presidency.
The Presidency said this on Monday, at the conclusion of President Jacob Zuma’s two-day visit to Iran. This following the lifting of sanctions in Iran.
The Presidency said President Zuma and President Hasan Rouhani of Iran witnessed the signing of agreements such as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Trade and Industry; MoU on the Establishment of an Investment Joint Committee; MoU on Agricultural Cooperation; MoU on Cooperation in the field of Water Resources Management; Programme of Cooperation in the fields of Arts, Culture and Heritage for the Years 2016 – 2019; and MoU on Cooperation between Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PETROSA) and the Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI).
They also witnessed the signing of the MoU between the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Financial Intelligence Centre of the Republic of South Africa concerning cooperation in the exchange of Information related to Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing; and MoU on Insurance Cooperation between Bimeh Markazi Iran (Central Insurance of the Islamic Republic of Iran) and Financial Services Board of South Africa.
President Zuma was on a state visit to Iran from Sunday.
The Presidency said the visit began with the official talks and signing of agreements as well as interaction with the South Africa-Iran Business Forum on Sunday.
“Today President Zuma was taken on a tour of cultural sites in Isfahan, as part of promoting greater understanding, people to people cooperation and tourism between the two countries. President Zuma is upbeat about his discussions with President Rouhani,” said the Presidency.
Whilst the President was still in Tehran, the Presidency said he also paid a courtesy call to Iran’s Supreme Spiritual Leader, the Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Khomeini.
“South Africa views the Islamic Republic of Iran as a strategic trading partner within the Middle East and Central Asian regions.
“In the bilateral sphere, South Africa and Iran share a long historical relationship, with Iran having stood with and supported the struggle for liberation in South Africa. South Africa has also stood with Iran in the face of unilaterally imposed sanctions,” said the Presidency.
The Presidency said while the countries have maintained good relations over the years, total trade has unfortunately been falling over the past decade owing to, amongst others, the non-existence of banking relations between the two states, and the various sanctions imposed by the West.
The Presidency said as of 2015, total trade between the two countries stood at R358 million. President Zuma stressed that this figure does not reflect the optimal capabilities of the two economies.
“The two Presidents undertook to take cooperation to a higher level in the fields of trade, education and skills development; science and technology; energy, including petrochemical gas exploration and refining capacity; agriculture; mining and mineral beneficiation; infrastructure development and transport; finance, banking and insurance and tourism,” said the Presidency.
The Presidency said the two Presidents also discussed developments in the Middle East region including in Iraq, Yemen and Syria, while emphasizing the need for dialogue and a political solution to the ongoing crises in these countries.
“The regional and global threat of terrorism was also discussed and the two leaders agreed to strengthen intelligence cooperation on strategic regional security and stability issues to combat international terrorism in particular.
“On the international front, the two leaders agreed to intensify the call for the reform of the United Nations especially the UN Security Council, as the interests of the developing world need to be protected,” said the Presidency.
It said President Rouhani has accepted an invitation from President Zuma to undertake a state visit to South Africa.
President Zuma was accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Noma-India Mfeketo; Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies; Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan; Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel; Energy MinisterTina Joemat-Pettersson and Water Affairs and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane. - SAnews.gov.za
