TEHRAN – On Sunday, Iran and South Africa signed eight cooperation documents in trade, economy, joint investment, management of water resources, industry, fight against money-laundering, culture, and art.

The agreements were signed at the presence of President Hassan Rouhani and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma who arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a two-day visit at the head of 180-strong delegation including six ministers.

In a joint press conference Rouhani and Zuma also insisted on the need to strengthen ties now that sanctions against Iran have been lifted.

Rouhani called South Africa an important country and said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always had friendly and close ties with the Republic of South Africa since the post-apartheid government started work and the African National Congress took power.”

The Iranian people stood beside the South African people during their struggle against the apartheid regime.

Zuma: Iran-South Africa ties should turn into ‘strategic partnership’

The South African president said that in the meeting with Rouhani discussions were made to turn the relations into “strategic partnership”.

Zuma also said that Iran has an important status in the views of South African people as the country supported them in their fight against apartheid.

South Africa‚ Iran plan to increase non-oil trade to $1bn by 2020

Zuma also told a meeting of Iranian and South African businessmen that his country plans to increase the volume of trade with Iran to as high as $8 billion by 2020.

According to Press TV, Zuma said the figure had been agreed on in his meeting with President Rouhani earlier in the day.

Zuma also the two sides agreed to increase non-oil trade to $1bn by 2020, Times LIVE reported.

He added that it was imperative that the two countries focused on diversifying their respective trade baskets in favor of value-added trade.

This would add much impetus towards addressing issues of job creation as well as skills and technology transfer in both countries.

“South Africa views the Islamic Republic of Iran as a strategic trading partner within the Middle East and Central Asian regions. Within the bilateral sphere‚ South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran share a long historical relationship.

“Total trade‚ however‚ has unfortunately been falling over the past decade owing to‚ amongst others‚ the non-existence of banking relations between South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran and the various sanctions imposed by the West‚” Zuma noted.

As of 2015‚ total trade between the two countries stood at R358m‚ which did not reflect the optimal capabilities of the two economies‚ he said.

“In this regard‚ I welcome the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Joint Investment Committee which puts in place‚ a measured and pragmatic form of cooperation.

“I am of the firm belief that these measures will enable us to significantly increase our levels of trade. “I believe the MoU on Cooperation in the field of trade and industry that we signed today‚ which was one of eight MoUs that were signed‚ and the accompanying roadmap provides a good departure point for strengthening our economic cooperation. It aptly outlines the objectives that both our sides wish to achieve‚” Zuma stated.

“I‚ however‚ believe that this would not be optimally realised in the absence of your involvement‚ as the captains of industry. It is in this regard that I welcome the establishment of the envisaged South Africa-Iran Business Council. It is imperative that the council members streamline their planning so as to complement the objectives of the roadmap.

“This would translate into tangible deliverables and would add further impetus towards expanding on the economic ties between our respective business communities‚” Zuma explained.

Rouhani says close ties with South Africa will bear positive international effects

In a joint meeting of the senior delegations of Iran and South Africa, Rouhani said there is fierce competition for signing contracts with Iran yet the Islamic Republic will not forget the friends of sanctions time.

“We will never forget our amicable friends during the sanctions times,” Rouhani noted.

The president also said South Africa can be one of the most important trade partners of Iran.

Rouhani also said expansion of Iran-South Africa relations can have “positive international effects”.

“Expansion of ties between Iran, as an important country in the volatie Middle East region, and South Africa, as an important country in Africa, can have positive regional and international effects,” Rouhani stated.

Rouhani said Iranians show great respect for South Africans due to their long years of resistance against “the arrogant and apartheid system.”

He also said Iran’s “good experience” of cooperating with South African corporations in various fields has provided “good ground” for expansion of relations.

He added an expansion of banking relations is an “important step” in accelerating ties.

Rouhani also highlighted the importance of Iran-South Africa cooperation in fight against terrorism. “All countries’ cooperation and solidarity are required to establish peace and stability in the region.”

Zuma also said Iran has a “strategic” position in the region, adding the nuclear agreement between Tehran and great powers and a consequent removal of sanctions are indications of Iran’s “wise policies”.

Iran and the 5+1 group - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany - finalized the text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna on July 14, 2015. The deal took effect in January, 2016.

NA/PA