IRAN: Non-oil exports to Africa to surge 2%

The director of Iran's Chamber of Cooperatives said here on Monday that two percent of the total non-oil commodities in the first six months of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2006) were exported to African countries, adding the number is projected to reach 4%.

Mohammad Reza Ramezani added that following the establishment of trade centers and holding of various exhibitions in that continent, this figure will increase to four percent by March 2007.

Noting the government's effective measures to expand non-oil exports, Ramezani added that the cooperative network has the capacity to hold specialized exhibitions in African states.

The official added that the total value of Iran's import in the first six months of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2006) was $20.8 billion of which $187 million pertained to African states.

Ramezani clarified that the value of Iranian goods exported to the African continent in the same period was $144 million.

Cooperative Office plans to establish specialized trade exhibitions in African states of Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, Algeria, Ghana, Tunisia, Nigeria and Madagascar.

Ramezani named Sudan as Iran's main trade partners in the African continent. He said that South Africa and Egypt rank behind Sudan in trade with Iran.

The total value of African countries export in 2004 reached $367 billion which shows a 25.4% increase against the figure for the previous year.

tehrantimes.com