TEHRAN: A 160-strong delegation of South African businesses will arrive in Tehran today to explore new opportunities in the Islamic Republic in the post-sanctions era.
The delegation will be led by South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“We are bent on expanding our relationships with the Africa Continent in the post-sanctions time,” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir- Abdollahian said.
Amir-Abdollahian, also, hailed bilateral ties between Tehran and Pretoria as optimal and progressive brought about by efforts of foreign ministers of the two countries during the past two years.
Ramaphosa’s delegation will also explore opportunities for the co-operation in the energy sector with a view of attracting investment into South African refinery and shipping capacity and for an exchange of technology and skills in the energy sectors.
The South African deputy president is expected to make a pitch for Iran’s investment in a refinery Pretoria is planning to set up.
Iran was the major exporter of crude oil to South Africa before the sanctions. The African country imported about 380,000 barrels of oil per day from Iran in the pre-sanctions era.
Earlier in September, Iran drafted a deal with South Africa for the sales of oil to the African country.
Africa was the 48th leading importer of Iranian non-oil goods in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started from March 21).
Iran exported $11.071 million of non-oil goods to South Africa, while imported $23.265 million from the country.
