A conference was held on Monday at the Foreign Ministry's Institute for Political and International Studies on economic cooperation between the Islamic Republic and African countries. The conference, attended by ambassadors and economic delegations of 14 African countries, focused on ways to fully exploit the economic potential and capabilities of Iran and African countries.

In fact, one of the main reasons for slow progress in economic relations between African states and the Islamic Republic is the fact that the two sides do not have full knowledge of each other's potential and capabilities for cooperation.

However, such measures as holding joint economic sessions and exhibitions and exchange of visits by economic and commercial delegations have helped to prepare fresh ground for economic cooperation between the two sides.

Presently, the Islamic Republic of Iran cooperates with Gambia, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Djibouti and the Republic of Benin in the areas of agriculture and fisheries and also in some development and power-supply projects.

Besides, there are opportunities for cooperation in the areas of dam construction, renovation of refineries and road construction, as well as the utilization of each other's free trade zones and ports.

The existence of religious and cultural affinities between Iran and African countries further contributes to the consolidation of relations between the two sides.

The one-day conference on economic cooperation was indeed a positive step towards expansion of relations between the Islamic Republic and African countries.